Day 5: Wednesday, 12/30/09: Casa de Piedra to Plaza Argentina

We both slept well and got up around 08:30. We enjoyed some oatmeal and tea, packed up camp, and were off by around 10:30. We arrived at Casa de Piedra and our first view of the Polish Glacier around 11:30. If this site doesn't inspire you to reach the top, I don't know what will. We snapped some photos, filled up some water at the ranger station, and took advantage of the toilet, saving our refuse bags for the high camps. This was also our first stream crossing. A quick change to the sandals and we were off.

Up to this point, the elevation gain has been barely noticeable. The first half of this next leg changed all of that. The trail was sandy and rocky with some grinder climbs and narrow trails. We crossed the next stream around 15:00 and snacked for lunch with the Polish Glacier appearing that much closer as we ate. The next three hours was made-up of seemingly never-ending rollers without any signs of base-camp. We passed a few mule trains making their way back down the mountain. The terrain gradually changed from green grass to the Mars-like red rocks near basecamp. We arrived at basecamp just after 18:00. It was a long two days with heavy loads. Our hats are off to those that do this trip without mule support. We quickly set up camp and enjoyed some of the most surreal clowdscapes over the horizon either of us had ever witnessed.

Time, Location (Altitude), SPO2, HR
08:25, ~ 2 miles to Casa de Piedra (10,500 ft), 87%, 70 bpm
15:00, Second Stream Crossing (N/A), 88%, 115 bpm
22:20, Plaza Argentina (13,800 ft), 80%, 95 bpm

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