VALLECITOS, Cordon del Plata Summit several
(in settings)
The Cordón del Plata, where Vallecitos, 80 km from the city of Mendoza, extends parallel to the Cordillera de Los Andes for about 60 miles. It belongs to the central mountains and to the foothills, with a more recent geologic formation that is manifested in the spiky profiles of the main peaks, which concentrated, about 25 miles, stand with heights ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 meters. The variety of peaks, close together and with various levels, together with the existence of shelters and plenty of water, can be matched to a novice climber gradually develop their learning and acclimatization. This cord makes this school a great high mountain, a corollary of the activities being promoted to its highest point, La Plata (6,000 m), whose profile stands majestically in the distance in view of the city of Mendoza. The Silver is also a goal almost obligatory, as a prelude to an ascent of Aconcagua. Crown allows, in some aspects, projecting a positive trend towards the main summit of America.
Main Cordon del Plata summit
Cerros, El Plata, Vallecitos, and Rincon (with blizzard), from the village of Potrerillos, Mendoza
The Silver Cord from the new town of Potrerillos
THE SILVER
THE SILVER - Vallecitos
Any change in the constant evolution of life. Changed the height of this mountain. When I went in January 1986 was 6310 meters high, measured mainly with old Thommen altimeters that were driving in the Andean Club Mendoza. And changed the use of those, then admired altimeters, with the appearance of great or GPS satellite positioning, how it puts us anywhere and height of the mountains. But with the caveat that this device set us back more than 300 meters higher than the mountain, now and hard slash the nearly 6,000 meters.
had not returned to their slopes for 24 years. Unfortunately within days and with a troublesome weather conditions would prevent our group realize its ascent.
I could contemplate with sadness as ice masses have disappeared and as can be seen cracking open, displaying his base glacial moraines in the area adjacent to the Salto.
No limit and maneuver. Growing Water! Let us avoid the action of chemical mining! and prosecute the officials who derive income from mining, whatever the destination that you give to them. No turning back in this process and this is part of another change, which unfortunately is not for the better, especially for our children.
On January 24, 1986, along with Marquez and Susana Mauricio Céspedes, after having signed the previous day in Vallecitos, the Refugio San Bernardo, did a first camp in Las Veguitas.
was going to prove an excellent piece, a parka stuffed with Thinsulate, which then would also use the Aconcagua on three occasions. This product, their shallow and great insulating power, replaced perfectly, and benefits from the goose.
The next day we go to a little above El Salto, having previously passed through several patches of ice, which do not exist today. From there we would leave the next day, at five in the morning to attempt the summit.
After a hard journey, hampered by a strong and constant wind, we reached the summit at one o'clock. We left our receipt, and removed that of the previous expedition. To our surprise came in the can of tennis balls that kept the records of Summit, a beautiful rosary beads, given to him (later we learn) Lanza del Vasto Chicchitti Don Vicente. This died a few hours after returning from the summit. But it is another story, of many that exist in our range, which I will
Twenty years later, between storm and memories, and not worry about stopping to see several dry riverbeds, was started way back. Jaime Suárez
HILL THE SILVER
WP
Datum, WGS 84
1
estate, -32,58.696, -69,21.565, 2930, m
2 Veguita, -32,58.550, -9,22.252 , 3232, m 3
Piedra Grande, -32,58.879, -69,23.344, 3547, m
4 El Salto, -32,58.768, -69,24.890, 4300, m
5 Shangri La, -32,58.824, -69,24.997,
6 The Hoyada, -32,59.437, -69,25.600,
7 PORT L. YELLOW, -32,59.744, -69,25.864, 4860, m
8 THE SILVER, -33, 0939, -69,27.281 (adjusted) 5950, m
The Plata Aconcagua in the background and the Cordon of the Cage
La Plata, 6000 m, summit in January 1986
Summit The Silver and the background in the distance Tupungato
VALLECITOS
° C VALLECITOS
View Vallecitos during early ascent
El Salto (photo M. Cicchelli) 
final stretch to the summit from the pass-Lomas Silver Yellow
RINCON
Rincon Hill (background, middle), just before El Salto Potrerillos, Mendoza
Tuti, Celina, James and Karina - Summit Rincón, 1985.
cerroVallecitos behind at the back top of La Plata, 6,000 m
cerroVallecitos behind at the back top of La Plata, 6,000 m
FRANKE
The Franke from springs, Potrerillos
Franke, Lomas Amarillas and Vallecitos from The Veguitas
Franke At the top of
Back in the sector summit
SAN BERNARDO
The San Bernardo from Veguitas
Summit San Bernardo
A chain
Vista Springs-El Salto, Potrerillos and the dam, from the top of Lomas Blancas
THE Veguita
Panorama, where is the vehicle to Las Veguitas ...
ascension to the Veguitas 
Vallecitos, general view from The Veguitas
(photograph, watch the channels that descend)
Almost the same photo, November 2009, the channels of the photo above does not have water. AREA SHELTERS
Jaime Suárez
Vallecitos, shelter UNCuyo
not throw trash on the mountain
PLATITOS LAGOON
LAGUNA DEL PLATA
By Jaime Suárez
The Cordon del Plata, Mendoza, blooms proudly with their main peaks by about 25 miles away in the blue sky and the mountains of the Andes. But it is much longer. Born in the south, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe pass of Santa Clara and extends its length, parallel to the ridge, for more than 60 miles to finish the account of the Rio Mendoza.
For years I knew of the existence of a lake called "Laguna del Plata" at the base of Black Mountain, and behind the saucers, near the southeastern wall of La Plata. This one with its 6,000 meters is the highest mountain in the cord, and imposes its name to the system, including the lagoon. This gap is perhaps the only of the system and its altitude and very difficult observation, is little known and difficult to find.
All this fueled the legend of this Mirror meltwater, who wanted to know. Shared these concerns with my brother and my friend Enrique Alberto Castillo who was friends with Alexander Maselli, as administrator "Las Lajas" and the property where the lagoon. Seizing the opportunity for an expedition, a ride organized by all, that Alexander would follow tourism. We set off from Mendoza
a Friday night and after passing through Potrerillos, slept in tourist area of \u200b\u200bLas Vegas, the 2,050 m at the home of Alberto. The next day we should be at 7 am at the Puesto Las Lajas. We arrived on time after 4 miles of travel by truck. The position is S33 ° O69 ° 19'251 02'487 to 2,385 m. Alexander with his people, was gathering the horses under the incipient orange light was beginning to appear between the peaks that surrounded us.
Puesto Las Lajas, the 2,385 m , Cordon del Plata, Mendoza At 9 am we left the post nine riders, two mules and three dogs or sun or shade to be separated from us throughout the adventure.
crossed the Arroyo de las Mulas, and a mile and a half later we stopped to appreciate "the Morteritos."
mortars in the area of \u200b\u200b"Morteritos" Three mortars carved into a large rock, a little higher ground level, which were used by the Indians of that area for grinding spices and seeds. Surely a settlement of some importance.
accommodating continued marching slowly and step by step our body to the chair, and progress of the horses. We spent the Las Vegas area to 2,773 m. A mile of walking we ranked in the 3,000 meters where we gave a break to the animals. S33 ° O69 ° 21'750 02'392.
Vista during ascent Las Vegas, and the dam Potrerillos In the 3,500 meters and travel difficulties were noticed some steps on the slopes and crests, with long and inclined slopes that end in the Arroyo Las Mulas. Another cresteo placed us in an opening to 3,670 meters. From there we waited two long and sloping carries, the last of which we had descended from the horses, and throwing the reins.
carries Journeying falling 300 meters down the stream of Las Mulas had no trace and clouds surrounded us. We reached the final climb to the lake, the clouds were below, the 3922 meters, S33 ° O69 ° 23'552 03'549.
A stream of water falling from above divided in two distinctive colors to climb the steep face. A light brown in the middle east, which projected to the top of the saucers and the other tone gray, in the western half, which amounted to Black. Probably used the lake to filter a geological fault and form the stream.
The final ascent to the Laguna del Plata We separated about 160 meters down this steep, rocky slope to reach two-tone top that it should be the lagoon. The horses could not bear our weight and effort. Consider that we were close to 4,000 meters for over 5 hours of walking. Agreed to remove and cash them pulling on the reins. What we assumed would be a parade had become a mountain expedition, which kept me happy. We begin with a short zig-zag slowly gaining every yard that separated us from the hill top. Each time we stopped to rest we had to pull the reins hard enough to convince the animal to continue to rise.
gradually ascended to the pass-Cerro Saucer Black. The height was 4,082 meters, the position S33 ° O69 ° 24'046 03'826. We should not go higher! Before us appeared a valley fairly flat where some 500 meters away, at the end of it, you could see the lake, whose mirror was cut between the sky and clouds. We could go back to the horses on the plains. The horses sped up the pace and the sloped plain and soon his hands could touch the water of the lagoon. Laguna del Plata
At 14.30 and delayed after six and half hours to cover the 9 miles that separated us from as we reached Las Lajas. 4,071 meters height and position S33 ° O69 ° 24'348 03'735.
Laguna del Plata All plain busy and that is the lagoon, appears to be an immense moraine glacier cover levels above 4,000 meters, the union of the slope of the Saucer brown color with Black Mountain leaden.
Laguna del Plata There were places where the tread of our horses left a mark that will soon be filled with water. We also note that half-buried boulders were large sections of the paved surface.
Filtration of the glacier forms the headwaters of the Arroyo de las Mulas. You can no longer speak of "eternal snow." No longer worry about what will happen the day that these reserves are exhausted "white gold". The melting of glaciers and how they crack and eat the moraines is very noticeable. All we care more about the subject.
The lagoon is at its longest 250 meters with a width of approximately 180 meters. Not surprisingly it was cold and the clouds were formed and dissipated very swift and fast. We took the saddles on the horses to rest a bit and then lying on the rocks and watching the lake, we devoured a light meal of bread with cheese and salami.
and was called for the return address carefully down the plain of the lake and then cross the steep scree slopes to reach the camp where we would spend the night.
Camp
return We came to the area of \u200b\u200bAlum Well, after falling 1,000 feet in the green hilly meadow we make camp and the first shadows of dusk. We were tired and just the next day, after an unusual breakfast with a delicious roast, would undertake a return to the job.
Enrique, Alberto and Jaime, then would come the return of the roast Jaime Suárez
November 2004
Jaime Suárez
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