Ojos del Salado Expedition – February 26th, 2022 Update from Copiapó, Chile
Hello from Copiapó! 🇨🇱
This is our second blog post for the Ojos del Salado Expedition — and we’re thrilled to report that the team is steadily assembling here in northern Chile.
Today is February 26th, 2022, and the sunny, breezy weather in Copiapó is setting the perfect stage for the start of our adventure.
🛬 Team Arrivals & Logistics Underway
Most of our expedition members have already arrived:
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Juan Schmidt made the journey overland, accompanying the convoy of guides.
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Sergio Vahnovan landed this afternoon via LAN Airlines.
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Arlindo Zuchello and Édio Furlanetto drove all the way from Brazil and are now in Copiapó — we’ll meet up with them early tomorrow.
We’re now waiting for the final group to arrive:
Roseane Formenti, Izabel Reigada, Vinícius Vieira, and Fábio Uzeda are expected between tomorrow and the day after.
💧 Strategic Water & Food Drops in the Atacama
Today was also a key day for our logistics team. We pre-positioned two caches of 100 liters of water each at critical points along our route, along with 60kg of food that we’ll retrieve in a few days.
Why? Because we’re climbing in the Atacama Desert — the driest desert in the world, and access to water is one of the biggest challenges here. These deposits will allow us to move faster and lighter with the main group, while guaranteeing ample clean water throughout the expedition.
⛰️ First Glimpse of Ojos del Salado
Around 2:00 p.m. today, from 18 kilometers away, we caught our first breathtaking view of Ojos del Salado — majestic and snow-covered, rising like a frozen titan in the middle of the desert.
The whole team is buzzing with anticipation. Soon, we’ll begin climbing the first of four mountains as part of our acclimatization phase, before we aim for the summit of the tallest volcano on Earth.
🎯 On the Road to the Summit
If you’re dreaming of tackling this incredible peak, remember — now is the time to start planning your Ojos del Salado 2026 expedition. At Andes Specialists, we provide professional logistics, expert guides, and the infrastructure needed to succeed in this extreme region.
We’re proud to be a trusted company for Ojos del Salado ascents, with years of experience navigating the harsh beauty of the Atacama.
👉 Want to learn more? Check out our guides on the best time to climb Ojos del Salado and the essential Ojos del Salado equipment you’ll need.
Wish us luck!
– Maximo Kausch
AndesSpecialists.com