204 FROM THE ALPS TO THE ANDES 
Vacas to buy three horses, in order to explore 
the valley of Horcones by which Aconcagua 
is reached. 
I now proposed to my patron that he should 
let me go and explore by myself a route to the 
summit of the famous mountain, and to this 
he consented. I started with a muleteer, 
a supply of provisions and a tent. Having 
reached the foot of Aconcagua, I at once 
perceived that it was impossible to surmount 
it from that side, for we were confronted 
by a vertical wall of more than 3,000 feet 
high. I went no further that night and, the 
next day, sent back the muleteer and made 
a tour round the peak on horseback, to see 
if it might be climbable on any other side. 
After seven hours’ riding, I found that the 
ascent could be made over a col, but the 
approach of night made a return to my en- 
campment advisable. 
In the morning, I set out early over a 
very toilsome path, through moraines and 
avalanche-tracks—very bad for my horse. 
For two hours, I pursued my way with the 
utmost difficulty, and finally reached the foot 
of the col. Here I left my horse, tethering 
him to a stone, and in four hours gained the 
summit of the col where there was a most