Aconcagua--January 31 (early AM)

It's all over. I will not risk my life for this mountain. We had a horrifying night at Camp III. The wind blew 50-60 mph, whipping spindrift around that found our tent's zipper opening (for ventilation) and landed on my face all night. I could feel the whole tent tense and strain under my body, head to toe, and I only hoped that all the lines and poles would hold. The noise was deafening. The sun is out this morning, but the wind continues, and the forecast is for the winds to increase to 100 mph over the next several days. We have no choice but to retreat. If we got stuck in those winds at this altitude, we might not get out. I'm disappointed, but I was scared enough last night that I completely agree with the decision of the guides. It was the still the journey of a lifetime, and it's not over yet.

The porters who came up to III to help started putting on their crampons. When Dan explained to them that we were going down, not up, they all broke out in beaming smiles of relief. They were also very wary of making the traverse to Camp IV.

Still have to get back down to Plaza Argentina.