Page 20 - 2004 AMA Summer

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^ by Angus MacPherson
xercise MULAS DRAGON was a High Risk and Remote level 3 adventur­
ous training exercise planned in Argentina over the period 28 Jan - 21 Feb 2004. The aim of the exercise was to reach the summit of Mount Aconcagua via the Horcones valley approach following the normal route. At 6960m Aconcagua is regarded as the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest in the Southern Hemisphere. Outside the Himalayan mountain range it is the highest mountain in the world.
The exercise aimed to challenge both novice and experienced mountaineers and tested all individuals to their personal limits. Although the Normal Route posed few
technical challenges, the extreme altitude and weather patterns associated with the mountain made the undertaking extremely demanding for all members of the exercise.
The group was made up of a mixture of abilities, six personnel from 21 Signal Regiment (AS) and two attached instructors from 14 Sig Regt (EW) and the Honourable Artillery Company.
We deployed from the UK to Mendoza via Santiago in Chile, which is the heart of the wine region of Argentina. After many hours shopping in the local supermarket Capt Lindsey Courage and Capt Kate Hannaford did us proud by arranging all the rations for the
Above: Capt Lindsey Courage on the summit 6960m
Below: Our mules arriving at Confluencia 3330m to take our loads to Plaza de Mutas 4350m
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mountain phase ahead. The next day we travelled by minibus to Puente del Inca at the bottom of the valley that lead to our objective. At Inca
we organised some mules to take our heavy loads along the 24km route to base camp (4350m).
Climbing a mountain of this altitude requires a different strategy to, for example climbing Ben Nevis. Time has to be spent at altitude, gradually accli­ matising along the way otherwise individuals can become extremely ill from simply climbing too high too soon; this can ultimately lead to death!
The outline plan was to spend three days walking into base camp; have a rest day before starting a process of carrying rations and additional equipment up to the next higher camp. The