Aconcagua. On January 14, we were on top of Aconcagua. Our intention had been to do the Polish route, but a shortage of time, inflexibility of airline tickets and uncertainty of mules led us to do no more than the normal route. I was surprised to find the technical simplicity of the route and by the number of people on the route. I counted 80 tents at Plaza de Mulas! I was also surprised to find mountain-bike tracks all the way up to the Berlin Camp. To complete the scene there were daily paragliding descents. The mountains are not what they used to be!

Leigh N. Ortenburger