Correspondence - ICO Library

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Binocular Vision & Correspondence FIRST Quarter of 2011
Strabology Quarterly©
Volume 26 (No.1):
A Medical Scientific e-Periodical Page 03-20
Climbing Aconcagua, 22,840 Feet, Argentina
DAVID K. COATS, M.D.
Professional Strabologist and Amateur Mountain Climber
INTRODUCTION
Aconcagua 2010 (December 19 - January 4)
Aconcagua is the highest peak in the
Americas, and at 22,840 feet, it is the highest
peak outside Asia. Known as the Stone Sentinel,
this mountain is often referred to as The
America’s challenge. Temperatures as low as
minus 30 C and strong winds often greet climbers
of this peak, the second highest
of the popular Seven Summits.
For example, about a week
prior to our arrival, winds of up
to 100 knots had leveled base
camp. The following is a
journal of our climb along a
variation of the False Polish
Glacier Traverse route.
THE CLIMB
Our journey started in
Mendoza, Argentina, in the
eastern foothills of the Andes
Mountains with 10 U.S.
climbers and 3 expert guides
from International Mountain
Guides. From Mendoza, we
traveled by bus to Los
Penitentes (See map prior
page) where we sorted gear to
be carried by us and gear to be
carried by mules to base camp
at Plaza Argentina deep in the
Andes. The actual climb got
started on December 22, 2010,
where we entered the trail at
Punta de Vacas (See map prior
page).
Over the first 3 days, we hiked a relatively
easy 20-25 miles to base camp with one river
crossing, (see below, credit D. Coats) moving
from 7900 feet to 13,800 feet. We spent
Christmas day in base camp. Each day we saw
people taken from base camp by helicopter with
various manifestations of acute mountain
sickness.