Transportation of your equipment to and from the base camps, we suggest using resistant water-proof nylon or PVC bags, with a lock. Backpacks are also carried on the animals, with no inconvenience.
Due to the distances to the base camps, which are considerable, and to the constant movement and friction to which the loads are exposed, the resulting wearing out of the bags will be significant if their fabric is not of high quality. Since cardboard boxes are not suitable to be loaded on mules, we provide our clients with resistant plaited nylon bags, to place all items that are contained in inadequate packages.
Plastic containers are safe. However, capacity should not exceed 50 litres and they should have handles to be secured on to the animals. As regards weight, each animal can only carry 60 kilos of net load besides the elements needed to hold the gear in place. We therefore recommend not bringing bundles that weigh more than 30 kilos per unit, so as to allow the placing of two loads per animal or otherwise 3 loads of 20 kilos each
Adequate balancing of the loads assures the client that the transport will be completed successfully. Our organisation offers a spacious building where the bundles can be secured and weighted in order to balance them before finally loading the mules.
We issue a storage slip, before ascension as well as after coming back from base camps, officially letter headed and with its corresponding number, exhibiting a detail of quantities, characteristics and weight of the bags and containers. Under this system, no confusion in the reception and storing of gear is possible. Expeditioneers can later on fetch all elements left in our care at our base, LOS PUQUIOS, or at the terminals of Plaza de Mulas or Plaza Argentina.
In the area, there are some transport service providers who charge very low prices, especially when coming back from the base camps. We feel it is our obligation to warn expeditioneers against contracting these low cost services since they do not always assure good transportation.
Moreover, it is difficult to find the physical location of their bases in order to make timely and appropriate deliveries of the equipment. We would like to draw attention to this fact in order to have prospective clients know that to save a few dollars in transport will not actually lower costs. On the contrary, it is a common sight to see expeditioneers wandering between Puente del Inca and Penitentes, asking for their gear.
Transport on mules is a very risky and rather complicated type of carrying. The muleteers’ expertise and the tameness and docility of the animals are the key factors to assure safety. There are other potential risks, unfortunately, like the crossing of rivers (especially after winters with frequent and heavy snowfalls) when animals may be washed away by the rivers and, on occasions, drown, with the consequent loss of equipment.
In Argentina, no insurance company covers the risks explained above. Accordingly, we suggest expeditioneers that they should insure their equipment in their countries of origin, for protection from eventual loss in case of an accident involving a mule. Also, so as not to have to transport clothes or other items not used on the mountain, we offer our clients a safe keeping service at our base at no cost.
MULES LOADING: