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I Leaving
Mendoza behind the road quickly moves
up the rough & rocky Andes along the valley cut by the river |
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II Puente
de Inca is the starting point for the trek.
It is located at 2800m and in the old days a railway ran
from Santiago to Mendoza and then on to Buenos Aires.
Nowadays the railway is not used anymore and
all transport happens on the highway passing the village |
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III This place got
its name from a natural bridge, which was used by the Incas to cross
the river |
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IV Our
very first glimpse of mighty the peak |
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from
the park ranger station Horcones |
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V A little
later on the trail, Aconcagua in all its glory showing off its Southern wall |
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VI In this
dry mountain region only a few plants are encountered but the ones
found are not only tough but also beautiful |
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VII It is a
long hike from the Ranger station to the base camp but you are
rewarded by beautiful scenery |
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VIII Trains of mules
carry the equipment to base camp
through the rocky terrain of Upper Horcones Valley |
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IX Finally arriving
at Plaza de Mulas, base camp located at the foot of Mt Cuerno at
4300m |
