Update from Plaza de Mulas – Aconcagua Expedition December 2023
Hello from 4,300m! 🇦🇷
This is Maximo Kausch, leader of the current Aconcagua expedition, writing to you from Plaza de Mulas, our base camp at 4,300 meters. Today is December 31st, 2023, and we’re back at base safe and well after a few intense days on the mountain.
On December 28th, strong winds swept across the upper slopes and forced us to postpone our summit attempt, originally planned for today. Yesterday, despite extremely poor weather, some expeditions tried to push for the summit — and sadly, we’ve received confirmation of the death of an American climber and reports that two others are currently missing. Our thoughts go out to their teams and families.
🌬️ Waiting for the Right Window to Climb Aconcagua
As it stands, the weather forecast has been accurate — the strong winds are blowing exactly as predicted. We’re now aiming for a summit push on January 4th, when we expect a small weather window to open. We’ll join forces with 8 other expeditions for the ascent, leaving early that morning from high camp.
⛺ Aconcagua Guide Expedition Logistics & Acclimatization
Our acclimatization plan has gone very smoothly. Camp 2 is already stocked with food, fuel, tents, and gear — all set for the final push. Our plan is:
-
January 2: Leave base and sleep at 5,600m
-
January 3: Establish Camp 3 at 6,000m
-
January 4: Summit attempt in the early hours
The team is incredibly strong this year — both physically and mentally. 💪
💥 Team Highlights from the Climb
Our teammate Florian had a throat infection on December 27th but has already recovered — which is remarkable at this altitude, where recovery often takes weeks. Thanks to solid acclimatization and positive mindset, he’s back on track.
Aside from a few typical high-altitude headaches, the group is in excellent health.
Diogo, despite limited high-altitude experience, is adapting incredibly well. He’s committed to reaching the summit and already broke his personal altitude record by reaching 5,630m just two days ago!
Today, Gunnar and Angel climbed nearby Cerro Bonete (5,050m) for active acclimatization. Angel — who has summited Aconcagua 72 times — is one of the most experienced high-altitude guides in Argentina and a huge asset to our expedition. He has led dozens of expeditions in the Himalayas and is guiding with us this year.
🧭 Looking Ahead – Aconcagua 2025 and Beyond
For those planning future climbs, whether it’s your first time climbing Aconcagua or you’re looking for expert support, our Aconcagua Guide Expeditions are designed for safety, success, and lifelong memories.
👉 Be sure to check out our [Guide to Climb Aconcagua] and our [Aconcagua Equipment Checklist] to start planning your own high-altitude journey for Aconcagua 2025.
Thank you for following the blog and being part of the Gente de Montanha family.
Happy New Year! 🎉 See you in the next post!
Maximo Kausch
Andes-Specialists.com