Hello, my name is Vincent Saura and I
will try to reach the highest high peak of the Americas.
For 21 days I walked over 130 kilometers, climbs 3 peaks over 5
000 meters above sea level, at 24 years old, alone and without assistance. Throughout my journey,
I became aware of the beauty of the landscapes. meager loneliness, difficulty of the expedition,
I had to accept the laws of nature and submit to adapt. My expedition
bring me to meet different cultures. All its beautiful things don't make me forget
the real goal of this adventure, to reach the summit of Aconcagua.
I experienced intense physical moments, facing the most extreme elements
always pushing my own limits. I must have refocused enormously
about myself and relate to the basics so that the mind takes over. I am
Vincent will know and I will tell you about my adventure. Mendoza 4th largest city in Argentina
land of sun and good wine. It will be my starting point for climbing Aconcagua.
The bus drives slowly and crosses a few rural villages, I contemplate the high peaks
true to the adventure stories that I got read. I discover a wild nature a
Indian Argentina and exceptional sommers . I meet Alfredo my
he will drop me off in an old decommission station which acts as an inn
. The old railway track runs towards the horizon. The pampas
opens up to me. At the bend of a path Aconcagua is our first meeting. My expedition begins at 2800 meters above sea level
, Horcones national park entry point . I'll have to reach the first camp
, Confluencia. From there I would acclimatize at the foot of the south face at Plaza de Francia
. Finally I will reach the base camp
Plaza de Mulas. It's the start for more than 4000 meters
ascent, scorching sun, cold, of wind and surprises. in the center Aconcagua
and it's 6962 meters, majestic. I carry a total load of 32 kilos of
what to hold 3 weeks in autonomy. We distinguish the first tents of the confluence camp
. Tomorrow i'll get up early i'll get used to it
at the foot of the south face of Aconcagua. Today, the objective will be to rally
Confluencia at Plaza de Francia. at 4300 meters altitude to go see the south face of
Aconcagua and also acclimatize. Little by little under the clouds the south face
of the colossus of America is timidly revealed. It is sumptuous and gigantic.
and constantly draw to the face like magnetize by this vertiginous wall
. I am currently in front of the south face
of Aconcagua. this morning I walked from Confluencia
until here a little further from there is Plaza Francia is a camp so named in
tribute to the first French expedition who successfully climbed the south face
.and this extremely vertiginous south face it has nearly 3000 meters vertical
tomorrow the goal is to go to Plaza from Mulas base camp, I will not delay
to go there the weather is covered and the weather changes very quickly here. At the bend of a
path I see an old horseshoe I take it hoping it carries me
luck later. I'm back at camp of confuencia. Back at camp I do
knowledge of Simons and Andreas I am admiring, they are very experienced, we
let's share around my aunt on food our experience and our philosophy of
Mountain . Under 50 degrees in the sun, it's 25 km
walk and the start of a long climb with a flat and stony bottom. The valley
is extremely arid, no way to protect themselves a burning wind starts to
blow . Hello. I meet caravans mules that carry the equipment and
refueling on steep trails and stony. Hello. While the slope
gets stronger, I get some lowercase snowflakes. I raise my head, the summits
are in the clouds .It is snowing .After 9 am walking plaza de mules the base camp
l'Aconcagua 2 nd largest camp of base in the world after that of Everest.
A snow storm hits the camp. Aconcagua's reputation is not
usurped. I'm finally at base camp plaza de mulas. My goal now is
reach several altitude camps . camp 1 at 5000 m, camp 2 at 5500 m
then camp 3 at 6000 meters it will serve me from launch pad to reach the top.
Before climbing to the top I continue my acclimatization I made round trips
successive between base camp and attitude of 5000 meters. 150 km from the Pacific Ocean, Aconcagua
is exposed to very strong winds up to 250 km / h. Its physiological altitude is estimated
close to 8000 meters above sea level. 4700 meters I have the pants closed which
just peter. I was setting the goal to climb higher to cross the bar
5000 meters above sea level. I am completely disgust the closure of my pants is
break it and I don't know if it's careful to continue there is a lot of wind there
is very cold. I eat a bite and I would see. My determination, the desire to reach
my objective will prevail over the incident. I would find the Germans gone a few
hours earlier. I still decide to pursue skinny the faulty pants
, now I go back down to the base camp . As soon as I return to base camp the radio
resounded, the guide of Lionel a Belgian announces that 60 cm of snow fell last night
, they will not go further. weather forecast up to -47 at the top on days
to come. Aconcagua is a project personal, it plays a lot in the mind
. I was unlucky with the weather, a lot of snow. it's the mountain. this is
the mountains are not easy. guide told me this is his 14th season on
the mountain is one of the first times that he sees snow like that, he has no
never seen so much snow. he told me the mountain with snow and the mountain without
snow these are two worlds apart. Tonight with Lionel, we will share a moment
of conviviality and fraternity with altitude carriers.
This is Steeve he saw that was throwing heavily task he offered to help me
carry my gear. After spending the night at 5070 meters
altitude I decided to do half tour there is too much wind, the forecast
weather forecast is not good at all so I prefer to go back to base camp
and wait for a next weather window favorable. back to base camp an employer
of a shipping agency to provoke a lot of damage, material is flying away
more than 1 kilometer from base camp. This summit without technical difficulty dominates the
base camp and will allow excellent acclimatization, at 12:45 local time, I reach
the top . A wide panorama opens up to me, it's a master painting whose
backdrop is the Aconcagua 2000 meters higher.The summit of Aconcagua just
here that went so close and so far to the time. the landscape around me is lunar
the tent is on a plateau beaten by winds strewn with more or less stone block
large. La, the Mercedario 4 th highest peak of the Andes Cordillera. With Steeve we
decide to go to camp 3 we will acclimatize us. In the distance we see
a tent that twirls and jumps. 3 people run after him desperately.
The tent will end its crazy dance in the bars rocky. with my jute bag, I cut precious
blocks of snow they will be used to hydrate me All night long.
Simon and Andreas descend from the summit after their attempts from the top they suffered
cold and we prefer to turn around and come back to base camp they will ring again
experience later. towards camp 3 at 6000 meters above sea level
. The effects of altitude cause a great agitation on my body. My past
made slower. The more I rise the more the view becomes spectacular.
Sit there on the side of the trail. Heavily charge a fully exhausted carrier.
he wanders. Shipping columns pass to rate without paying him the slightest attention.
I feel that something is wrong. I approach and finds that his crampons are no longer
set they are detach they failed drop it to the bottom of the precipice. I
hands him his crampons and helps him to get up, I follow suit and him
means I stay behind him, if he needs me he can count on me.
Shipping columns progress slowly , oxygen is scarce. Admire a little
this view. Magnificent. It is priceless to be here
Here is the first refuge says Berlin completely cashed by snow and here the second refuge
completely cashed and also unusable .
5 o'clock in the morning let's go, the sky and beautiful, starry, clear there is a bit of wind
it's going to do it and clear I leave the tent . the day begins to break I distinguish
the horizon the silhouettes of the mountains stand out against a sky that turns orange
to yellow. on my right the pyramidal shadow of the aconcagua covers part of the mountain range
andes. Here is the independancia refuge 6400 meters above sea level last point
decision before continuing in direction from the top or not. This is the famous cross
which leads to the top. I come across a mountaineer expedition which
turn around, our eyes meet none verbal exchange only takes place at 6800 meters
altitude the summit is visible on my left, fatigue due to hypoxia reached
its maximum. at more than 6800 meters above sea level the brain is not only slowed down by
the lack of oxygen but also the cold hunger and dehydration, my body
is falling apart. nothing left right nothing left left
am for the first time i set foot on the highest peak in the americas.
I head to the foot of the cross and to its base I proudly attach the flag of the association to it.
Months of effort for a few moments !
After 31 days of walking after 130 km solo walking parks I realize that
my expedition ends. The end is over difficult as the finish I got deeply
attached to Aconcagua. I learned to put into perspective I realized that wealth
is not necessarily material. the world he doesn't need me to turn.
We all have our own dreams and we are all capable of achieving them.
