Preparing at Marconi Pass

Rob Rigato arrived at El Chalten last Wednesday, Australian time, and after recovering from his jet lag joined Linda and Kerryn in ferrying loads up to Marconi Pass.Apparently a strike somewhere in Argentina has meant a redeployment of staff from the office where the remaining expedition freeze-dried food is currently located. Hence, no one is around to process it through the system. Linda was advised it would take at least two weeks. The Team has been fortunate to locate a climbing company which could sell them the thirteen days of meals they require. In addition, there is a mountain guide with a "bulk nuts and cereals" shop who can make up the breakfasts they need. So food for the trip is now sorted.

Last week Graham from the Instituto de Educación Experiencial de la Patagonia Ltda lodged the expedition border-crossing paperwork with the Chilean authorities. On Wednesday, as part of the approval process, the three team members formally reported to the Argentinean Border Post and now await the issue of their permit by Chile.

It won't come through over the weekend so the Team chose to move up and wait on the icecap rather than come back to El Chalten, unless, of course, the wait threatens their food and fuel supplies. As Linda said “It will give us a chance to set the loads up for the sleds rather than the packs. We're looking forward to getting underway”.Today the Team has trekked up to and is currently camping at Marconi Pass. They are now preparing their equipment and packing their sleds ready for departure, hopefully tomorrow, across the South Patagonia Icecap. Linda reports the Team is well and weather looks good.


InReach is working well and tracked Kerryn’s trek to Marconi Pass. Feedback from the Team is that the inReach/iPod touch combination is extremely easy to use. The tracking, the two-way SMS messaging and the capability to sent alerts enhances the safety of the expedition.