Category: Aconcagua Expeditions

What are the Right Foods for Mountaineering?

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Food is essential for humans, but the right food is more important for high-output activities like mountain climbing. What you eat before and during your mountain climbing has a direct effect on your endurance and performance.

What Should You Consume During Mountain Climbing?

Everyone has different needs for calories, but for mountain climbing, everyone needs more calories than they usually consume. You can pack calorie-dense items with plenty of healthy fats and protein. You can also carry your favorite treat or energy food.

  • Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate is the necessary fuel that helps your muscles keep moving. You can consume both types of carbohydrates, including complex and simple. However, choose one that your body can easily ingest and break down into glucose, which provides you with sufficient energy. You can add these food items to your backpack, including oat bars, bananas, and milkshakes.

  • Calorie-rich

Most foods rich in carbohydrates are also rich in calories. This type of food offers high energy, essential for climbing. You can eat eggs, bananas, avocados, cheese, and dried fruits.

  • Easy-to-digest

When you are outside, getting an upset stomach is not a good idea. You can add foods such as dairy products, white rice, vegetables, whole grain, and apples. You should also make sure that your diet is delicious.

  • Protein

Protein is another important element necessary for climbing. It helps boost muscle recovery. Eat sufficient protein to aid the repair and growth of muscle tissues.

  • Balanced Diet

Ensure your diet balances salt, fat, protein, calcium, and zinc. Avoid overeating sugar.

Some Food Ideas for Aconcagua Expedition

Some foods are ideal for climbing as they contain high carbohydrates with balanced protein. Keep these foods in your backpack, including nuts, protein bars, oat cakes, granola bars, homemade banana bread, and whole grain sandwiches. You can also add these food items: fresh fruits, hard cheese, rice, pasta, chocolate, and pretzels.

At Aconcagua Base, you can hire a guide who helps you plan your diet. Eating even if you don’t feel like it during the climbing is important.

Why is hydration essential?

Besides high-calorie food, water is also essential for mountain climbing. You know that climbing a mountain causes a lot of fluid to be lost from your body in the form of sweat. Make sure you get plenty of water at regular intervals.

You should drink 4 to 5 liters of water a day. However, a person can’t carry that much water. With Aconcagua Guided Climb, you can refill the water at some routes and keep yourself hydrated. You should carry a portable water filter to ensure you drink clean water.

Conclusion

Pack the right type of food and eat adequately to get energy during the day and fast recovery during the night. If you have already climbed a tall mountain like Aconcagua Ascent, you may have realized that the right fuel is necessary for climbing.

At altitude, your taste buds become less reactive. Prepare a tasty diet plan so that you can enjoy your food at a high altitude.

Where to Start Your Mountaineering Journey

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Mountaineering is a famous sport among both males and females. Around 800 people attempt to climb the mountain every year. People prepare for mountain climbing for several months, so they quickly adapt to the mountain’s high altitudes and harsh weather.

The Seven Summits are like a quest for mountain climbing enthusiasts. However, climbing all the seven highest mountains on each continent is quite challenging. If you are going on an adventurous journey, you should start somewhere. First, you should learn all about mountaineering, gear for mountain climbers, and the best mountains to climb as a beginner.

What is mountaineering?

Mountaineering is a lifelong hobby. Unlike other outdoor sports, mountain climbing offers a unique experience every time you do it. People like this activity because of its difficulty level; they achieve a sense of victory after climbing.

Climbing a mountain also has many health benefits. There are thousands of mountains that people climb every year.

How to Do Mountaineering

Mountain climbing involves two major styles, including Alpine and Expedition. Mountain climbers practice Alpine mountaineering on medium-sized mountains. However, the expedition mountaineering style is for larger mountains.

In Alpine mountaineering, the climbers use light luggage and quickly move to the peak. You can practice this style in the mountains, such as the Rocky Mountains.

In expedition mountaineering, the climbers carry much heavier loads and move slowly. You can perform this style on large mountains such as the Alaska Range or the Himalayas. This mountaineering also takes more time to finish.

Tallest Mountain to Climb in America

If you’re going to climb the tallest mountain in America, you should consider Aconcagua. It is located in Argentina, South America. This mountain has no technical difficulty and doesn’t require much mountaineering experience.

You can also get a guide to assist you in climbing until you reach the top. You can choose either the Aconcagua 360 Route or the Polish Route. Both routes are great for climbing, but you must be able to walk in crampons for the last 3300 feet.

Climbing this mountain helps you gain beginner’s experience and confidence. From there, you can start your mountaineering journey.

Quick Tips for Climbing Mount Aconcagua

If you make up your mind to climb this mountain, you will need expert tips for the same experience.

  • Follow a regular training regime before climbing Aconcagua.
  • For safe and successful climbing, hire the Aconcagua Mountain Guides. You should be comfortable carrying a 55-lb load for several hours a day.
  • Consider taking Diamox, and bring a sufficient supply of your other medications.
  • Bring lightweight equipment for your expedition.
  • Staying hydrated is essential. Drink 1 liter of water before breakfast and 2 liters before lunch.
  • Take your time when you first start climbing and maintain your pace. Avoid getting tired and tired at an early stage of the trip.

In Conclusion

Climbing Mount Aconcagua is possible for a person with no prior mountaineering experience. You can prepare for mountain climbing with consistency. However, it is up to your body how it responds to high altitude. You can follow the tips when climbing the mountain. It is better to climb this mountain with a guide.

Why Should You Climb Mount Aconcagua with a Guide?

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Aconcagua is famous for its height and difficulty level. Many people around the world visit Argentina during the summer to climb this mountain. There are many things you need to consider before going to climb this mountain. However, contacting the right mountaineering company can help you obtain all the necessary information about the Aconcagua and how to prepare for it.

 

Look at these benefits of Aconcagua Mountain Guides before you plan your Argentina trip.

 

  • Safety

Guides focus on safety first when making decisions for the Aconcagua expedition. The guide also participates in risk management and emergency response programs to help you provide safety from every challenge. You can also receive medical support from your guide if needed. They carry VHF radios that help them communicate and alert other guides about weather conditions.

 

  • Porter Assistance

Climbing on Aconcagua requires you to carry a heavy load, which can be tiring for a normal person. You can carry your luggage or hire a porter on the mountain. However, with a guide, you can get a porter to carry your bag without additional cost. The porters also help move tents between the camps.

 

  • Excellent Guides

Most guides are super-friendly and tell you about all the things about the expedition. The local guides in Argentina speak English and have good communication and management skills. Not all great climbers can guide you through climbing. Only well-trained guides have a thorough knowledge of mountains and an understanding of the personal nuances of guiding others.

 

  • Experience

An experienced mountaineering company offers guided climbs for both the Aconcagua 360 Route and Vacas Valley Route with a complete range of logistical services. With each expedition’s experience, the guides hone their skills.

 

  • Acclimatization Trekkings

Generally, a mountaineering company offers 21 days to complete the Aconcagua climb, which includes the acclimatization trek. Acclimatization trekking involves an extra rest day to recover from constant climbing, which increases your chance of successfully reaching the summit.

 

  • Base Camp Services

You can get a high level of comfort and care at camps. All camps usually have dining tents, chairs, lights, tables, clean toilets, storage tents, platforms, bunk beds, and electrical charging stations. At Base Camp, you can get the delicious food necessary for mountain climbing. You can also use free Wi-Fi and a peaceful shower at Base Camp.

 

  • Helicopter Services

Sometimes, mountain climbers need rescue, so the guide contacts their team to arrange for an emergency evacuation via helicopter. You can also request a helicopter tour around the mountain to see breathtaking views.

 

  • Own Resources

Generally, a mountaineering company has its own guides, porters, climbing gear, base camps, and mules. It helps you save money on your trip expenses. You can also access any service at any time. Simply address your needs to your guide and enjoy the safe and easy mountain climbing experience.

 

Conclusion

Climbing with a guide makes your expedition easier and safer. Choose the right mountaineering company with an excellent safety record. They will provide you with the best opportunity to reach the summit cost-effectively.

Aconcagua Climbing – Never underestimate the “age” of Aconcagua

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The cabinet tests carried out on the matrix of the deposits were carried out according to the operating conditions and are described below.

Mineralogical analysis: The mineralogical composition, except clays, has been analyzed from 2-3 grams of an 80-gram sample, ground to a size less than 35 μm, through X-ray diffraction, using a D5000 diffractometer ( Bruker AXS). The Aconcagua 360 Route used Cu radiation and an accessory graphite monochromator. Diffraction data were taken from 4° to 70° 2θ, with a scan width of 0.02° and a counter tube scan time of 2 seconds per step. We worked with 40 KV and 30 mA. The quantitative analysis of the phases was determined using the Rietveld technique contained in the BG MN/AUTOQUAN software (Bergmann et al. 1998).

Grain size analysis: For this type of analysis, 12-15 grams of sample were used. The organic components were dissolved through treatment with H2O2. The remaining material was sieved into two fractions: larger and smaller than 63 μm. The first was screened at all phi divisions (phi > -2). From the material smaller than 63 μm, the clay-sized fraction was separated using the Atterberg method, while that corresponding to silt was analyzed with a Micromeritics SediGraph 5100 in all phi divisions.

Grain roundness grading: Some of the remaining material was sieved at 250-500 μm and 100 grains from each sample were graded using Turner’s two-dimensional visual roundness tester. Bearing in mind that Confluencia is the site where both types of deposits are best exposed, we first How to Climb Aconcagua proceeded to define their lithological characteristics there, to compare later what was observed in the different valleys. With this information, the proper genetic interpretation was carried out. The Confluence above profile is exposed in the ravine located on the left bank of the Inferior Horcones River, just in front of its junction with the Superior Horcones River. This profile, of approximately 20 meters, presents two types of deposits recognizable by their different color and stratigraphic position: 1) reddish, the oldest, and 2) gray, the youngest (upper third of said profile).

The upper, grayish deposit comprises a breccia with blocks several meters in diameter (recognized up to 5 Aconcagua Guided Climb meters) scattered in a poorly selected, also breccia matrix (from gravels to clays), predominantly of the same composition as the blocks. The latter shows the typical lithologies of the volcanoes of the Aconcagua Volcanic Complex, made up of lavas, breccias, and tuffs, of andesitic and dacitic composition. It is important to note that this breccia level covers most of the Confluencia sector.

Aconcagua Climbing – Expedition or climbing alone?

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Some small sinkholes in the distal part of the deposit and very few depressions with lagoons, which indicates the presence of an impermeable substrate. The mounds are rounded and smooth on the surface and soils have developed in the depressions. In a profile product of a road cut, a soil has been observed in these depressions, covered by detrital material from the mounds that surround the hollow, as converging microslopes. This remobilization of material from the top of the mounds into the surrounding depressions has considerably smoothed the original surface of the deposit. In addition to gravity, periglacial processes, Aconcagua Argentina surface weathering and wind deposition have contributed to it. Towards the distal zone, at the Confluence with the Cuevas valley, the deposit is divided into two lobes; one penetrates perpendicularly to the valley of the Cuevas river, in the same direction that it brought in the Horcones, while the second lobe extends downstream in the valley of the Cuevas river, advancing approximately 2,000 m in it. The cross-sectional profile of the Horcones deposit indicates that it is higher in the center than towards the flanks. The distal edge of the Horcones deposit is therefore located at the Confluence of the Horcones and Cuevas river valleys. This distal edge of the Horcones deposit is perfectly defined and has a variable height between 5 and 10 meters, which allows the deposit in question to be separated from the surrounding land. The latter correspond to a lithologically similar deposit located just below, and Mount Aconcagua also has an irregular morphology, although smoother than that of the Horcones deposit. In accordance with what was mentioned above, the study of the filling material of the valleys of the area made it possible to distinguish essentially two types of deposits, also well distinguishable by their field (megascopic) and morphological characteristics, previously considered as till by other authors.

Numerous mineralogical, granulometric and roundness analyzes were carried out on the matrix of both deposits present in the different valleys, in order to capture the complete lithological characterization of Aconcagua and precisely define their genesis. Sampling was carried out in the Horcones Inferior, Horcones Superior and Horcones valleys (both proximal and distal, already at the intersection with the Cuevas River). The underlying deposit exposed by the deepening of the Cuevas River, only had a microscopic study of the loose grain of the sandy-silty material in order to determine its mineralogical composition. A synthesis of the lithological characteristics of the Quebrada de Horcones deposit was presented by Lagorio et al.

Information about the type of terrain on the hill

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This characteristic meant that various types of deposits were located there. Espizua (1989) described six drifts in the area (Punta de Vacas, Penitentes, Horcones, Almacenes, Confluencia and undifferentiated moraines). Of these, the moraines of the Punta de Vacas, Confluencia and Penitentes drifts can be identified in the Confluencia zone as glacial deposits because they preserve the morphology imposed by the process. But part of the deposits mapped as Horcones moraine, Almacenes moraine and undifferentiated moraines have a morphology and composition that complicates their interpretation as glacial deposits. The detailed genetic characterization of Aconcagua Expeditions constitutes, consequently, one of the objectives of this contribution.

These deposits, here under review, are distinguished by a landscape of gentle elevations and depressions (hummocks) composed of a greyish, almost monolithological breccia of internally fractured clasts and angular blocks, which correspond to outcropping volcanoes in the upper part of Aconcagua hill ( Aconcagua Volcanic Complex). At the mouth of the Tolosa ravine, a deposit with similar characteristics is observed.

Precisely in the area of ​​Confluence, in the ravine located on the left bank of the Horcones Inferior valley, a profile of approximately 20 meters is presented, where the contact between said grayish gaps and the underlying reddish glacial deposits assigned Aconcagua Climb is clearly exposed. previously by Espizua (1993) to Drift Penitentes. Between Confluencia and the Durazno ravine, the Horcones valley narrows. Here there are only few remnants of lateral moray eels.

The valley of the Horcones river, downstream of the mouth of the Durazno stream, is filled by the deposit here called Horcones. It stands out in the landscape due to its large volume and a very particular surface morphology. The Horcones River is lying on the left bank of the valley, where it carved out a narrow gorge.

The area covered by the Horcones deposit is approximately 6 km2. Although no complete profile is observed in this valley section, unlike what was described for Confluencia, it is estimated that it is probable that the deposit exceeds 30 m thickness throughout most of its area. Climbing Aconcagua According to this, its volume could be at least 180 x 106 m3 for the sector under analysis. Taking into account that there are remains of the deposit from the Horcones Inferior valley, the total volume of the flow must have been even greater.

Its surface morphology is characterized by a succession of elevations and depressions, represented by conical or elongated mounds 5 to 10 m high and between 15 and 30 m in diameter.

Aconcagua Climbing – A hill of millions of years

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For all these analyses, a photo interpretation was carried out, with frames at a scale of 1:50,000; Aster satellite images were also interpreted, from which digital topographic models were made and, finally, field tasks were carried out. During the latter, observations were made of the sedimentological characteristics of the deposits located along the aforementioned valleys, collecting samples to carry out Climb Aconcagua compositional (mineralogy) and textural (granulometry and roundness) analyzes in order to fully define the lithological characteristics of the same. Lastly, absolute dating was done using carbon 14C methods on fluvial and lacustrine deposits, and cosmogenic nuclides (NC) on surface blocks of the deposits under discussion. The analysis of all this information finally made it possible to interpret the genesis of the different deposits, the age of the processes that originated them and to evaluate what could have been the determining factors and triggers that produced them.

The work has been organized in such a way as to first present the field observations, the mineralogical and textural data and the absolute ages of the deposits, then the interpretations that arise from the analysis of all this information and, finally, the conclusions.

Geomorphological features

It stands out in the landscape due to its great elevation and is also notable for the presence of glaciers located on it at different heights (Upper Glacier, Middle Glacier and Lower Glacier) The Upper Glacier draws attention, because it communicates through a small step with the Ventisquero de Los Relinchos, a glacier that flows into the valley of the Las Vacas River. On the other hand, this last Aconcagua Expedition glacier also has very particular characteristics, since it ends on the southern wall of Cerro Aconcagua without a feeding basin or glacial cirque. Starting from the morphological observation, the Superior Glacier and the Los Relinchos Glacier can be united in a single glacial tongue, considering that they would have flowed, in the past, in a valley to the east as the East Glacier and the Ameghino Glacier do. These three glacial tongues coincide in height, Aconcagua Hike, unlike the Horcones Inferior glacier, much deeper in the landscape due to differential erosion, as a consequence of the asymmetry in the size of the glaciers, in relation to the orientation of the valleys with respect to of sunstroke. To complete this scheme, all that is needed is a watershed or interfluve that currently does not exist, between the valley of the Superior Glacier-Ventisquero de Los Relinchos and the valley of the Inferior Horcones. It is interpreted that said divide, absent today, would have existed in times of the Quaternary glaciation, as will be analyzed later.

The confluence area:

This area bears that name because the valleys of Horcones Inferior, Horcones Superior and the Tolosa ravine meet there. The sector is a little wider than each of the valleys individually.

Do I need technical knowledge to climb Aconcagua?

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If we move from the foothills to the high basin of the Mendoza River, Espizua (1989) describes the Penitentes, Horcones and Almacenes drifts. Subsequently, the Horcones deposits were assigned by Pereyra and González Díaz (1993) to flows originating from rotational landslides. Recently Fauqué et al. (2008a and b) considered the three drift deposits as distal flows of rock avalanches. In this case there is no doubt that the area was glaciated during the Pleistocene, but what is being discussed here is the Aconcagua Mountain Guides validity of the glacial stratigraphy of the Mendoza river basin, based on the mass shear deposits identified .

These antecedents allow us to observe that glacial deposits and mass removal deposits have been confused for more than 60 years. Therefore, the need arises to review and reinterpret the morphology together with the sedimentological characteristics of the high mountain Quaternary deposits. The incorrect identification as moraines made of deposits corresponding to rock avalanches that have survived erosion in previously glazed terrain, has been pointed out by Hewitt (2002) as frequent in many parts of the world. Detailed mapping of Quaternary deposits has been insufficient in many high mountain regions, despite the fact that it is linked to knowledge of geological risks.

It was precisely a study linked to the Aconcagua Ascents geological risks that affect the town of Puente del Inca, the reason for which the issue of the genesis of the deposit located in the Horcones ravine was addressed, in order to discern if it is of glacial origin or associated with mass removal. The resolution of this problem made it necessary to extend the observations to the Cuevas river valley and to the deposit assigned to the Penitentes drift.

The recent reinterpretations of the Horcones, Almacenes and Penitentes drifts were presented in abstracts at the XVII Argentine Geological Congress, therefore we intend here to provide all the information on which the new interpretation of the three deposits is based. We will start with the Horcones deposit and finally we will refer to the one located immediately downstream from the town of Penitentes. In the investigation of the Aconcagua Treks Horcones, Almacenes and Penitentes drifts, special attention was paid to the surface morphology of the deposits, their location and extension in the valleys and their volume. The morphological characteristics of the valleys of Horcones Inferior, Horcones, Tolosa, Cuevas and Mario Ardito were also analyzed, comparing them with other valleys in the area. The southern wall of Cerro Aconcagua was also studied in detail, as some anomalous and/or unusual morphologies were noted in it.

Brief tips for climbing the Colossus

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In the event of the preparation of a susceptibility map to the mass removal processes that affect the town of Puente del Inca, the controversial genesis of the Horcones deposit was reviewed. The morphology of the deposit and the surrounding landscape, the mineralogy and texture of its materials were analyzed and finally radiometric dating was performed. Based on these studies, it is concluded that the Horcones deposit is the result of a saturated flow derived from a rock avalanche or mega-slide, caused by the collapse of a watershed on the southern wall of Mount Aconcagua, during times late glacial or postglacial Aconcagua 360 Route. Deposits similar to Horcones fill the Cuevas river valley to the east and are covered by others, which were also previously considered glacial (e.g. terminal moraine of the Penitentes Drift). The analysis of this material in the vicinity of the town of Penitentes, using a similar methodology, reveals that it corresponds to a large-scale flow coming from the Mario Ardito creek. According to these new interpretations, the need to carry out an exhaustive review of the glacial stratigraphy in the area is clear. New ideas also arise regarding the genesis of the Puente del Inca natural monument. Finally, understanding the geomorphological evolution of the southern wall of Mount Aconcagua sheds light on the Horcones glacier surges. The southern wall of the How to Climb Aconcagua hill (6,965 m a.s.l.) constitutes an unusual morphological feature; With a drop of around 2,700 m, it is one of the great walls of the Earth. In it, rocky outcrops alternate with hanging glaciers, from which ice avalanches break off, giving this slope a greater risk. We rarely stop to think how these walls originated or, if we do, we combine: tectonic ascent, erosion and thousands of years, to finally give rise to a free interpretation. In the case of the southern wall of Aconcagua, among the erosive processes that the Aconcagua Guided Climb modeled, there were no less than two rock avalanches, which we will also call mega-slides (because of their enormous volume), which originated flows whose deposits have been previously interpreted by other authors as glaciers. The discrepancies about deposits assigned indistinctly to the Pleistocene glaciations or to mass removal are long-standing in our geological literature. During the studies carried out in the foothills of Mendoza, Dessanti (1946) described the “Morena del Quemado”, reinterpreted by Polanski (1953) as Cenoglomerate del Quemado and assigned to flows associated with rising debris. In fact, based on the different interpretation criteria of the deposit, the existence of an extensive englazation of the piedmont was being discussed.

Aconcagua Climbing – The challenge of reaching Colera

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Finally we arrived in Berlin, we made the tents since there was no room in the shelters, Esteban, who arrived first with Graciela, had a strong dispute with the guide of another expedition who was reserving places inside the shelter, as you can see the “criolla liveliness” it is immune to high altitudes, we look for snow far from the shelters so that it is not contaminated and we make water. Aconcagua Guided Climb

The fatigue at this height is incredible, to set up the tent, look for snow or simply change clothes. I took photos on the ascent. We are all very tired and the lack of oxygen is very noticeable. Tomorrow we plan to leave for the summit at four in the morning, I hope that the weather will be with us and we will achieve it because the effort is tremendous.

It’s a pity that the photos I don’t think show the imposing mountain landscapes and the precipices on the side of the path in their true dimension, when I look down I feel chills, a fall here must be more than 1000ms and without a doubt it is from the path to eternity, there is no chance of surviving something like that, the other big problem and what I see when looking up in some sections are avalanches, those avalanches of thousands of tons of ice and stones that bury everything in their path. However, at no time did I feel fear, only exhaustion and a tremendous desire to reach the summit. Aconcagua Mountain Guides

Arriving in Berlin we see a large number of lower snow-capped hills that surround us and the summit of Aconcagua covered by rock formations. We set up the tents with great effort and again go looking for snow to make water. Melting snow seems simple, but to make a liter of water from snow takes about forty minutes, the specialist in melting it is Mario and I go looking for it, Eduardo is the taster, he does the quality control… an efficient team .

Meals are quick and basic, based on instant soup, cheese, cold cuts, 4-cheese noodles, sausages, and cookies.

At this altitude, it is necessary to hydrate well, approximately 3 liters per day, to prevent the complications of altitude. In general, one is neither hungry nor thirsty despite great efforts, but eats and drinks liquids even if one does not feel like it, because dehydration and weakening due to lack of calories is fatal. I also take a vitamin pill every day. Aconcagua Ascents

The temperatures in Berlin are 15 degrees below zero, in the tent I estimate 5 degrees below zero.The tent moves a lot but it holds, I don’t know if we can go to the summit tomorrow.