Category: aconcagua climbing

Aconcagua Climbing – Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Don’t

Posted on by Aconcagua

The summit of Aconcagua, covered with eternal snow, which in the Quechua language means “Watchtower or Stone Sentinel,” is surrounded by other peaks that exceed 5,000 meters above sea level; for this reason, this area is called “The Roof of America.”

Every year about 1,200,000 people visit Mendoza’s natural reserves, and Aconcagua Provincial Park is one of the most visited.

Among these thousands of tourists who visit this circuit each year, approximately 5,500 are wild sportsmen prepared to challenge the high mountains, who arrive motivated to do Aconcagua Expeditions, the second-highest relative height in the world, behind Everest.

It is one of the principal traveler’s destinations in Mendoza. It is frequently the scene of sports activities and cultural events such as the Wine Ritual, Americanto, or the High-altitude Film Festival.

In addition, if you are climbing Aconcagua, the Park is located in an environment where a vital task of awareness and revaluation is being carried out (Archeology in Las Cuevas, Planning of Puente del Inca. World Heritage Qapaq Ñan-Camino Real Inca), Sistema Tetra de Comunicación in Alta Montaña that further positions its tourist attraction. Nido is an actual viewpoint, to the east the central valleys Los Patos and Barreal; to the north, the impressive mounds of Cord de la Ramada, dominated by the Mercedario (6,770 m); Behind the hill, the Horn Valley Volcano, the desolate lands of Güssfeldt; To the west, the Cathedral, the cordon and the valley of Chile; and to the south the incredible spectacle of the immensity: the Great Highway and the north and south summits of Aconcagua. Arriving in Mendoza is always accompanied by a frenzy of final preparation for the expedition, and this time it was no different.

It was extraordinary meeting the team, or 2/3 of the group, anyway: Alex and Elise landed in Mendoza on Saturday; Andrea was unfortunately delayed due to flight cancellation, but she should be joining us in with her fingers crossed Mendoza in a matter of hours. Aconcagua is not cheap; the climbing permit only costs about $ 1000 (depending on the route and season you choose for your climb). Then there are the logistics costs on the mountain, equipment considerations, guides, porters, and a host of others considerations.

For full disclosure, guided tours are offered on both the Normal Route and Route 360, but that’s just one of many different ways and prices to climb the mountain.

Here’s an essential guide on how to budget for an Aconcagua climb and what levers you can use to reduce your cash investment, assuming you have time. But money constraints, or the amount of time you need to put in, prepare and execute your climb, assuming you have no worries about money but limited time.

Aconcagua Climbing – Don’t Forget to be Well Fed

Posted on by Aconcagua

The Aconcagua Expedition season officially runs from November 15 to March 31 of each year, with December 15 to January 31 being the high season.

The suggestion for those who wish to venture to Aconcagua is to do it between the end of November and the end of February, since there are two factors: first due to the weather conditions. It is within these months when the climate is warmer in the Southern Hemisphere and more stable in Aconcagua.

The second factor is that there is greater availability of the necessary services to carry out the ascents (mules, base camp services and porters).

Before or after the recommended time, there is a very low number of visitors to Climb Aconcagua and it is very likely that you do not have the necessary logistical services to face this demanding excursion.

As for the climate, outside the recommended season there are heavy snowfalls, strong winds and wide fields of ice and snow that cover both the access to the base camps and the ascent routes.

During the summer (December to March), you can experience the temperature at night in places that reach 5,000 meters of approximately -20 ° C, and the temperature at the top is -30 ° C.

Cold, snowy, and unpredictable conditions make most Aconcagua hike during winter dangerous.

Aconcagua is located within the Provincial Park located 185 kilometers from the City of Mendoza. It can be accessed by renting a car and heading towards National Route No. 7 to the signs that mark the entrance to the park. They are approximately 3 hours away.

Another option is to take a bus from the terminal in the center of Mendoza (Av. Acceso Este and Av. Videla) the Buttini bus line to Uspallata and once at the local terminal, take the taxis located at the entrance to the entrance. from the Aconcagua Provincial Park (73 kilometers).

To begin the trekkings and ascent to Aconcagua, it is mandatory to register online, request the permit and make the payment of the entrance fee. For the walk to Laguna los Horcones, online registration is not necessary. Payment is made at the visitor center of the Provincial Park.

For the trails it is mandatory to carry ID or passport, sports shoes, shelter, sun protection, food and drinking water. There is no food sale in the park! Aconcagua Provincial Park is located west of the province of Mendoza, 180 km from its capital city, in the Department of Las Heras.

The Aconcagua Provincial Park is one of the 17 protected areas in the province of Mendoza, created by provincial law in 1983, and is open for promotion from November 15 until, generally, the Holy Week festivities. Mount Aconcagua, reaches 6,962 meters above sea level, becoming the highest in America. Its imposing peaks, crowned by eternal glaciers, attract large numbers of climbers from all over the world, as well as important archaeological sites.

The entrance routes to the Park are those of the Río Horcones and the Río Vacas, which reach the base of the hill where the main base camps are located: Plaza de Mulas and Plaza Argentina, respectively. The Park is accessed through International Route No. 7, from the town of Puente del Inca.

Aconcagua Climbing – Hydration is Essential

Posted on by Aconcagua

Humidity is relatively scarce, oxygen is low, and powerful winds are produced that are at the same time responsible for making essential storms in the place. The technical equipment necessary to perform the Aconcagua Ascents is one of the most critical points to face this challenge. In most cases, it avoids injuries and health problems that could prevent you from meeting your goal of reaching the summit.

That is why when choosing the clothing for the Aconcagua Treks, keep in mind to bring the following items:

– First skin: This clothing is in direct contact with the skin, and its function is to evacuate sweat, keeping the skin dry. Clothing of this type has two characteristics: it maintains body heat but is permeable to air, allowing for a feeling of freshness. Ideally, the material of this layer is polyester. The use of cotton garments is not recommended, as they maintain moisture and help lower body temperature. The first skin garments are pants, shirts, gloves, and socks.

Second-skin: This clothing is placed on the 1st skin. Its principal function is thermal insulation, maintaining the heat generated by the body and favoring the evacuation of moisture. This skin is made up of different types of tissues, the most common being polar. The garments of this layer are pants, jacket or pullover, vest, hat, gloves, and stockings. It is essential to carry out Aconcagua mountain guides

Third skin: This layer must be completely waterproof, breathable, and windproof. The combination of these qualities will ensure that, in a storm or river crossing, the water does not penetrate the garments but, at the same time, allows the sweat to escape. In mountain settings, staying dry and warm will be synonymous with comfort and health. The garments of this skin are pants, a jacket, a hat, and gloves.

Remember that 30% of body heat is lost through the head, so it is essential to have good warm hats, balaclavas (polypropylene or Capilene), and neckerchiefs.

Fourth skin: This last layer is, precisely, a thermal insulator. The clothing can be filled with feathers or fiber and is used in freezing temperatures (-10 ° C to -35 ° C). The garments of this skin can be a jacket, vest, or overalls.

Aconcagua Climbing – Which Route Should I Choose?

Posted on by Aconcagua

For those who want to know part of the Aconcagua 360 Route environment and its base, trekking through the Aconcagua Provincial Park is an excellent option. In addition to the mountaineering routes that allow you to ascend to the top of Aconcagua, the Provincial Park offers numerous circuits with different levels of difficulty.The walks through these circuits invite you to know how to climb Aconcagua and to pass through landscapes of snow-capped mountains, deep valleys with panoramic viewpoints and mighty rivers. Some of these routes correspond to gentle 2-hour hiking trails, while other more complex ones comprise 7 days of trekking.

Continuing with the group of birds, you will be able to locate the Muscisaxicola cinerea that frequents the proximity of mountain rivers and streams, the Andean comosebo with a showy dark cap that contrasts with the yellow-white ventral part, the leaden yal, the agachona necklace whose name refers to the custom of “flattening” against the ground.

Another characteristic animal of the area is the guanaco whose ability to live in steep terrain is greater than that of the vicuña, there are also populations of the emblematic puma and red fox.

It is the most important water mirror in the Aconcagua Park, this lagoon is created by the melting of the glaciers that are in the surroundings and is also fed by the meltwater of the Tolosa hill.

The Laguna de Horcones is located 2,950 meters above sea level, it is part of a small wetland formed by five lagoons and meadows; These wetlands are characterized by presenting a biological diversity of plants and animals. This entire valley was covered during successive periods by large glaciers.

The Laguna de Horcones circuit is a route of almost 2 kilometers long that can be covered in an hour. It is the only path that is allowed to be done throughout the year, unlike ascents to the summit or trekking to base camps that have well-defined seasonal dates.

There is the possibility of hiring Aconcagua Guided climb, it is recommended if you do not have previous experience, or want to know every detail and path of this wonderful natural environment.

In the 73 thousand hectares that the park covers, it can be observed that a shrub, stunted or creeping vegetation predominates, and in the areas near the peaks the dominant vegetation is the shrubby steppe, low and scattered, with a predominance of the iros, which are hard compact shepherd shrubs, generally yellowish.

As for the fauna of the Aconcagua Provincial Park, you can see the condor that with a wingspan close to three meters and a height that when perched exceeds 90 centimeters is considered the largest flying bird, flies with extraordinary skill over the valleys and the hills of the area. It is the great protagonist of the area!