divnamite wrote:1. There is a camp below the penitentes to camp 1 (15,000?). People could've use that one instead of going all the way back to basecamp.
It is not always there, early in season there are also penitentes there and if not, it might be too close to the slope beneath camp one, and descending climbers might kick some rocks loose, so I would not recommend it. As the slide down from camp 1 to here can take just 5-10 minutes, it is better and safer to camp in camp 1 instead.
divnamite wrote:2. When coming back down from camp 1 to basecamp, you don't have to go back down the penitentes. There is/was a steeeep scree trail on scree next to the snowfield, it could've save us a lot of time coming down because we had to constantly stop and let people to come up.
Yes, I also advice this in the book (chapter: descent):
Aconcagua Guidebook wrote:"Descending from Camp 1, stay to the right of the snow if it’s still
there, using the scree directly below. Leave camp without crossing
the snow field or river; follow the steep scree curve down to the
right, running all the way to the base of the snowfield which you
might have to enter for a small stretch. It’s a steep but feasible slope.
(If you are descending after your fi rst carry to Camp 1 it makes good
practice for descending the Canaleta on summit day.)"
divnamite wrote:3. A better back-up route information. I think your book was better than Sector because yours show several options once getting around 17,500 where climbers can go up to camp 2 or traverse to other campsites via different routes. Sector's book doesn't show that, and climbers can't have a back up plan.
While I'll probably never go back there, I hope the newer version can give more information like that to help independent climbers.
There is quite a lot of info stuffed in these 96 pages
, I have tried to show and describe all variations within the normal routes, but welcome any additions or changes.
Thanks in advance,
Cheers, Harry