Day 7 - Plaza De Mulas to Camp Canada & back - 5050m

Selfie at 4300m

The signal from Aconcagua base camp  is not great, the contact comes and goes which is frustrating - but we did managed a quick chat. Ray said it was snowing heavily in camp today, magical but freezing. The team is all in full thermals and down jackets.  He has been enjoying the food at base camp, scrabbled egg, bacon, sausage and toast for breakfast right up his alley :) And a nice bit of chocolate as well.....he is not going to want to come home! He said you just can't resist going out and looking at the stars at night. 'It just blows your mind that the sky is so full of stars from horizon to horizon. Wish I could stay out and watch longer but its simply too cold." says Ray.

 
Plaza De Mulas has the highest contemporary art gallery ,called The Nautilus, in the world. It is housed in a tent and is open seasonally during the climbing season and dismantled during the winter months. It is owned and run by Miguel Doura a painter and passionate mountaineer. 

Take a look at the third highest webcam in the world www.aconcaguanow.com and see camp life.   


Day 7 - Climb High - Sleep Low Phase - 3-5 hours



Today begins their process of acclimatisation so climb high and sleep low. The idea is to carry a light pack and deposit some gear up at around 5000m. Easy scree slopes will zig zag up the face until the small patch of flat ground is reached with a spectacular view. This will be the site of a future camp (Camp 1) but for now, the plan is simply to dump some stuff and head back down to base camp.

Hopefully I get to hear from Ray on how this day went and if the weather was on their side.

Ray has set himself the target of raising R22 840.00 for The Sunflower Fund - R100 for every 100ft climbed. The Sunflower Fund recruits potential blood stem cell donors and raises funds to pay the R2500.00 tissue-typing test cost per donor required in the recruitment process.

To support Ray in his mission, visit his cause page on Given Gain to make a donation.

For more information about The Sunflower Fund or to register as a stem cell donor call 0800 121082 or visitwww.sunflowerfund.org.za.