From the entrance to Cerro Aconcagua National Park, you hike up the Horcones river valley to a low camp at Confluencia, and then onward to Plaza de Mulas, where many climbers set up a more permanent base to acclimatize for summiting Mt. Aconcagua.
The mountains in this area are the most colourful mountains I have seen in all of my travels. The many different minerals in the rock oxidize into stunning rust reds, gun-metal blues, and sulphur greens. Add in the clear blue sky, mossy green vegetation, and muddy red water, and it’s a stunning palette for the eyes.
I met the two Spanish climbers in this photo while spending the night at Confluencia. We did an acclimatization hike to Plaza Francia together before heading up to Plaza de Mulas. They eventually climbed Aconcagua, but sadly I wasn’t geared up for climbing.
Location: Aconcagua region, Argentina