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Going for the top...
Partindo de Copiapo a nossa intencao era passar dois dias na Laguna Santa Rosa mas, como o David jah explanou...furamos dois pneus e tivemos que vir direto a Laguna Verde. Um local simplesmente espetacular, uma Lagoa de cor verde esmeralda rodeadoa pelos vulcoes mais altos do Planeta. Ficamos 2 noites aqui. Ontem fizemos uma caminhada de aclimatacao ate mais ou menos 5.000m, na volta o Jorge e eu resolvemos entrar na Laguna Verde....brrrrr geladissima mas deu para dar umas nadadas. Sai da laguna e fui direto para a "banheira termica". Sim, aqui tem aguas termais, mais ou menos 40 graus, que permitem tomar um delicioso banho diario. Todas as aguas que fluem para a Laguna sao quentes e super salinas.
Quando estava confortavelmente instalado na banheira apareceu o Canal 3 de Televisao de Copiapo....tive que voltar para a Laguna....brrrr de novo, e dar uma entrevista...voltei feito picoleh para a banheira....e nada de "plata" para mim :o)
(rough translation)
Our intention was to spend two days in the Santa Rosa Lagoon but, as the David explains... time lost due to the two flat tires meant that we had to come to Verde Laguna directly. A simply spectacular place, the lagoon has a green emerald colour. We spent 2 nights here. Yesterday, we made one acclimatisation walk to more or less 5,000m, on the way back, Jorge and I decided to jump into Verde Laguna... brrrrr it was cold but it was one good swim. Leaving the lagoon, I rushed for the " termal bathtub ". Yes, there are hot springs here, at more or less 40 degrees, that allows us to take a delicious bath. Hot springs feed the Verde Laguna with its hot and "salty" waters. When I was comfortable in the hot spring bathtub, camera crew from Channel 3 of Televisao de Copiapo turned up!!! ... gave them an interview of the pleasures of the hot springs.
Gil
We're at the Atacama Refuge, a steel box at 5,200m under the shadow of Ojos Del Salado, our main objective. Sadly, much wind and snow meant few good photo opportunities. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we (Gil, Jorge and I) will climb up to the Tejos Refuge at 5700m. We are in the high desert, so an unusual part of the climb is that we have to carry all our water supplies. Tomorrow, 6 litres per person on top of our gear make up the loads we have to carry. It's snowing heavily now so we don't know if it's a go tomorrow.
Ting Sern will be based at the Atacama refuge for 2 days - hopefully, the clouds will clear to present an opportunity to send some pics as well. We'll be in touch with him with our Motorola GP68 radios.
Morale and health - good and 02 saturation levels are about 85% for Gil and about 82% for Jorge and myself at 5200m.
Our food packs for the summit push include Brands Essence of Chicken, cous-cous, sambal and All-Carbo Powdered carbohydrates.
See You Soon,
David
NB: The team did NOT make it. In deep and exhausting snow, Jorge turned back at 6300m, David at 6600m and Gil at 6700m ( the crater rim ). With no one else on the mountain to help share the task fo breaking trail, the team turned back at about 2pm; about 10 hours after leaving the refugio. Ojos remains unfinished business
