Aconcagua Climbing – Unforgettable experience in South America

Tuesday 10 / 02 / 04

“When one is stressed and nervous, complaining and complaining is tempting, but such behavior is only useful if someone can fix things for you, and in the mountains everyone is responsible for himself” Aconcagua Hike

Today we set up camp to go to Nido de Cóndores (5600mts). This morning there was a problem between Gladys and Belén, who are tent mates. Apparently Gladys is not very cooperative with daily tasks, I know that she does the minimum and is also the slowest of the group, which causes problems in the marches, as if all this were not enough, poor Belén lost the water she was heating Inside the tent, she began to cry, I think it is the sum of everything that has been said, plus the effort, the lack of oxygen, the tension typical of the situation we are experiencing and fundamentally the lack of “wave” between them.

In general, except for these small incidents, the group works well. Eduardo slept spectacularly and today he is another, on the march to Nido de Cóndores he went very well. It was a very hard journey due to the higher altitude, the 15 kg of the backpack and the steep slopes. It took me a lot of effort but it went well. Leandro did not tolerate the march and Fernando had to help him with the backpack, I do not think he will attempt the summit, the same situation is that of Gladys. Aconcagua Expeditions

The place is moving, how to describe in words the grandeur of the mountains and this landscape that so few people know, I feel privileged and I give “thanks to life that has given me so much”. The summit is already close, from Here you can see the paths of ascent and I take photos. I went to look for snow to melt at 100mts, all in slow motion, I finish doing this and it starts to snow. In an hour everything was white, some began to throw snowballs, as you can see the spirit is excellent.

I am a little worried about the radio news that reports a storm in the high mountains, the people who love me must be scared, but we are very well and I have no way of communicating with anyone. Aconcagua Climb

Snowfall in summer is very rare in Nido de Cóndores and we had the privilege. We dined on sausages with mash and grated cheese for lack of butter and milk. Although it snowed all night we were not cold in the tent.

Aconcagua Argentina – Best time to climb Aconcagua

Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the American Continent, this is one of the reasons why it is known worldwide. Although its fame is mainly due to its great mountain attractions. According to some international mountain experts who have climbed in the Himalayas, the almost seven thousand meters of Aconcagua represent psychologically and physiologically several hundred meters more. This phenomenon is due to known and unknown reasons. In the Himalayas there is vegetation up to 5,000 meters, in the Central Andes only up to 3,500-4,000 meters. The ambient relative humidity is very low and the thickness of the layers of the atmosphere, in this area of ​​the globe, has particularities that determine these effects. Climbing Aconcagua

These factors, added to the great uninhabited distances, the general desert aspect and the isolation from any assistance, undoubtedly have important consequences on the human being. All this contributes to Aconcagua being an appropriate terrain for measuring and preparing to subsequently access mountains higher than 8,000 meters, constituting an excellent game setting, where the mountaineer can feel completely at ease and fulfill many of his greatest sporting ambitions.  Aconcagua Expeditions

Both the eastern edge, the «Glaciar de Los Polacos», and the South-West edge, present appropriate conditions for visitors to display their abilities at various levels of demand, as well as the West face. The North-West slope of the mountain, where the normal route runs, without technical difficulties, allows high-altitude sport climbing and is also suitable for practicing recreational climbing. The latter facet is only recommended, under the direction of guides and for individuals in excellent physical condition, suitably equipped.

Regarding the South face, its desolate and severe environment, the poor quality of the rock, the constant dangers of seracs and snow avalanches, stone falls, the great unevenness, the significant height above sea level, the threat of sudden climatic changes, plus the truly total isolation, are the factors that give it its “wild” condition.

From a technical point of view, the wall presents all kinds of difficulties on ice, snow and rock. And whoever faces the ascent must have a good climbing technique, great physical condition, considerable experience and, fundamentally, a lot of enthusiasm and perseverance. Aconcagua Climb

In this immense mountain it is possible to perform high-level mountaineering, interrelated with a large dose of adventure, The “Stone Sentinel”, a hieratic pyramid for the Inca centuries ago, still treasures mysteries and its magnificent silhouette catches the dreams of many mountaineers.

Aconcagua Climbing – My shared Aconcagua itinerary

Day 6: Rest day – Preparation of the ascent to Plaza de Mulas of our Aconcagua climb.

We take a quiet first day at Base Camp with plenty of time to rest, bathe, and explore the local terrain to get used to the altitude.

Day 7: transport to Canada

We gained 650m with a heavy load on this challenging day, walking thankfully for easy terrain. After leaving our equipment, we will return to the Base Camp to take advantage of the comfort and the lower altitude.

Day 8: Rest day – Preparation of the ascent to Plaza de Mulas

We take our last day of rest at Base Camp to regain strength, recover and make final preparations for climbing Aconcagua

Day 9: Camp Plaza Canada

The following day we get up early to start our ascent. We walked to Camp 1, called “Plaza Canada.” By now, the party should feel acclimatized, but we will be aware of the altitude and maintain a suitable rhythm.

Day 10: Nido de Cóndores Camp

Camp 2, called “Nido de Cóndores,” is located on a high pass at 5400 m

Day 11: Take to Colera

Today we take equipment to Camp 3, called “Camp Colera.” After leaving the equipment, we return to Camp 2 to sleep and give our bodies more time to adjust to the altitude.

Day 12: Camp Colera

We hiked for 4 hours to Camp 3 at North Ridge. We spent the afternoon getting ready for our tents, eating, and resting. We assess our status and make preparations for the summit.

Day 13: Summit of Aconcagua

This is the most challenging day of the expedition. We climb the North Mountain Range to the Independencia Refuge at approximately 6500 m. We ascend through the “Portezuelo del Viento,” we climb “La Canaleta,” and the “Filo del Guanaco,” which takes us to the summit. This hard work rewards us with a 360 ° view and an overwhelming sense of success against all odds. We descend to Camp 3 to spend the night.

Day 14: Buffer Day

Free days in case of bad weather conditions. We spend an additional three days to increase our chances of reaching the top, which risks delays due to weather, altitude, and unforeseen circumstances.

Day 15: Buffer Day

Free days in case of bad weather conditions. We spend an additional three days to increase our chances of reaching the top, which risks delays due to weather, altitude, and unforeseen circumstances.

Day 16: Return to Plaza de Mulas

We descend from Colera to Base Camp. We will enjoy a great dinner to celebrate our Aconcagua expeditions.

Day 17: Return to Mendoza

Return from base camp to Penitentes and return to Mendoza city.

From here, we take private transportation to the hotel in the city of Mendoza, where we will have our last dinner together.

Day 18: Fly home

We have breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and say goodbye to Argentina.

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

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.