Tag: Climb Aconcagua

Aconcagua Climbing – Preparing the charges to begin the Ascent

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In the afternoon we put together the “petates” (packages), to carry food; to Plaza Canada tomorrow and to Nido de Cóndores on Saturday. Today I patched the mattress. Tonight we will eat a stew, I plan to go to sleep early, all the clothes have arrived in good condition, the mules behaved very well this time. In the first load, a can of beer broke and four liters of water spilled, so all the boxes got wet, nothing too serious. As I write this, I’m eating a snack with beer. We had a delicious lentil stew for dinner, I with beer, I still have a few cans left. Aconcagua Treks

How I fixed the inflatable mattress, despite the height (4200 meters) I slept straight for 6 hours, woke up at 4 am, read 1 hour with my headlamp, I got sleepy again and slept until 7 am. I feel very well physically, some colleagues have a headache, I only notice dry lips and skin despite the creams. At this height no vegetables grow and the only animals I have seen are a couple of beautiful and majestic condors that flew over us.

Friday 06/02/05

“The transparency and beauty of that great mountain arises when you are completely committed to it, when the dedication is mutual”

Today we get up at 7:00 a.m. and at 10:00 a.m. we leave for Plaza Canada (4910mts) to acclimatize by going up and also to carry food that we will leave there in closed bags covered with stones, that way we will carry less weight on the final ascent. Climb Aconcagua

In general the whole group well and even. I do not exceed 120 beats per minute at maximum effort, which is my usual frequency in hard training (big Jack!)

Esteban leads the march and Constanza closes it. In Plaza Canada we find several expeditions of foreigners camping. The landscape from here is impressive, I see the Cuerno hill, Plaza de Mulas from high above and the Tupungato hill with its snowy west wall. skate between the stones, a sensation similar to skiing.

On the descent Mario was a bit weak, I think he suffers from vertigo and as the slopes are very steep and with loose stones you have to skate away, it’s a very nice feeling… if you’re not afraid. Aconcagua Expedition

We arrived back at 3:30 p.m. very tired but happy. Spectacular weather, sun and heat with little wind (ideal)

While I was going up I was thinking about taking a photo of myself at the summit reading Don Quixote and on the way back I would take another one reading it in line at Citibank (to name just one of those that mortified me) put them together and put a sentence on it: “In the most exciting places and in the most frustrating and stressful the book can always accompany you ” and donate it to the General San Martín Library.

Aconcagua Climbing – The mountain is a lifestyle

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“As a park ranger or preservation agent, until the 2019-2020 season we worked in a normal or conventional scheme, we had foreign tourists, we worked like a normal year, with the pressure that exists when there is a volume of people and all the operations that a park of this magnitude entails”, explained Aros. 

Aconcagua Expedition

Within the scope of the Park, they hold police power and have the power to control income, apply sanctions and expel those who transgress the rules. They receive complaints, suggestions and contributions to improve the functioning and conservation of the Park. “Our role, before the pandemic and today, is to provide care and information to visitors. As park rangers, we are in charge of environmental control and the conservation of natural resources”, explained Lucas.

These preservation agents circulate throughout the season through the different camps: Confluencia, Plaza de Mulas, Casa de Piedra, Pampa de Leña, Plaza Argentina, Camp 1, Camp 2, Cólera, Independencia and Canada, these last three for those who try to summit. 

Climb Aconcagua

“With the pandemic we continue to work in our areas but without tourists, which was what was striking and different. Although we did not stop working, what changed was our routine. We started with the maintenance of the park, repair of signage and others, which may not have had enough time at other times due to the influx of tourists. Progress was made in somewhat relegated tasks”, Aros completed. I love mountain landscapes, so during my trip through Argentina I really enjoyed the Andes. As I passed through Mendoza, I couldn’t stop getting closer to contemplate the highest mountain in America and I was lucky enough to have a spectacular sunny day to be able to admire its summit at almost 7,000 meters of Aconcagua Hike altitude. Here I will tell you how to get to Aconcagua so that you can also marvel at this great snowy giant. If it is among your travel plans or dreams. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the world outside of the Himalayas, which makes it the highest in the Americas and much of the rest of the planet. Its peak reaches 6,960 meters above sea level and it is not alone, but around it there are many more mountains, glaciers and valleys under the protection of the Aconcagua Provincial Park.

The mountain and the park are located in the section of the Cordillera de los Andes in the Argentine province of Mendoza, close to the border with Chile. In fact, it is more or less halfway between the cities of Mendoza (Argentina) and Santiago (Chile), about 3 hours by road from each of them. Therefore, it is relatively easy and comfortable to visit Aconcagua from any of them.

Aconcagua Climbing – How to build your gear without problems

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We must bear in mind that to climb Mount Aconcagua we will have to, if necessary, adjust our footwear with gloves on, the boots we choose must meet that requirement. With the heat we emit when we walk, the inside of our double boot can get wet. The usual tactic is to put the inner booties with us in the sleeping bag overnight, leaving the carcass on the outside.

In the morning they will be dry and hot. The same is true for stockings. As important as the clothing and our camping equipment is the technical material. The use of technical equipment is essential to be able to overcome all the eventualities that we may encounter.

Technical Equipment for Aconcagua

Crampons

Helmet

Ice axes

First aid kit

Razor

Thermal bottle

Miner lantern

Attack backpack 20L

Hand and foot warmers

Tips and equipment to climb aconcagua cheap and some electronic devices

Bear in mind that with such low temperatures, electronic devices tend to discharge their battery in a very short time. Keeping them close to body heat will lengthen their wearing time.

Have professional advice.

Having professional advice, the necessary equipment and the right companions are issues that every lover of this sport should be clear about when drawing up their goal.

Aconcagua has witnessed great values ​​of companionship, acts of courage and innumerable experiences of personal improvement.

Crowning its peak is one of the most important achievements in mountaineering.

GO IN POST OF OUR OWN SUMMIT …

We believe that each person should go after their own summit and we want to accompany you on your way.

In interforces we are adventurers by nature and we have many friends with whom we share our passion.

We hope that this information and study that we did, meets your objectives and helps you. It is not advisable to go to the highest hills of the Andes Mountains, without a great deal of respect and veneration.

At 6960 m, Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside the Himalayas, and is suitable for hikers.

It takes at least 15 days to climb to the top, including acclimatization time to the altitude. The traditional ascent is by the northwest route, through a 40 km path from the Laguna de los Horcones; the Polish Glacier route is longer (76 km) and harder, but more scenic and less crowded. The south face route is a demanding technical climb.

Only expert climbers should tackle Aconcagua without the security of an organized circuit, and even so, many hire guides who know the changing weather of the mountain

Aconcagua Climbing – Remember to trust your mind

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Being tall can also cause you to urinate more frequently and weaken your thirst response (you don’t usually feel thirsty, you have to force yourself to drink), putting you at a greater danger of dehydration. If you do not realize it, they appear: headache, muscle cramps, and the chances of suffering frostbites, issues with solar radiation, hypothermia, and acute mountain sickness dramatically increase.

Above 4000 meters (Plaza de Mulas), it is better to drink between 3 and 4 liters of liquid to hydrate. This is very important to drink water on an-Aconcagua Expedition since the water that comes from direct snow (melting snow) without added does not hydrate enough. Above 5000 meters, it is already convenient to take between 4 and 5 liters per day.

Concerning the drinks and liquids that can help us to hydrate the most in altitude. They said that cold tea is better than a hot one. Any of these is better to mate (which generally adds liquid but does not hydrate). Coffee, instant soups are a good resource for the proportion of sodium, fat, dehydrated vegetables, etc.

Isotonic powdered drinks, powdered juices in sachets collaborate to have variety in daily consumption.

It is imperative to have the designated containers. In this case, it is also good to have variety here, including a 2-liter bag with a hose, two wide-mouth bottles, a 1-liter thermos, and an airtight jug, for the different moments of the expedition and also not to mix liquids. The juice goes in a bottle, water in another, soup in the jug, the tea in the thermos, etc.

How often have we heard about Aconcagua Hike? You can only eat polenta, rice, and noodles? However, developing culinary skills in natural environments represents one of the most rewarding tasks. The options are endless. We can carry fresh products such as fruits, vegetables, and even meats in the same backpack. The menus will have to be carried out, the place, and the way of access. In the mountains, we cannot afford to eat absolutely anything for breakfast as some do. In the hills, those who do not eat well go home.

And here, it is not mentioned that the food must be rich in carbohydrates, proteins, etc. In typical situations, eating some energy every two hours, four meals a day, and staying well hydrated are enough. You cannot and should not skimp on food. Our security also depends on it. Climb Aconcagua, and in altitude, the lack of appetite is usually another indicator that we have problems with acclimatization. That is why incorporating various foods, and nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) is essential. It isn’t easy to carry and keep fresh foods such as meat and dairy for days, but it is very important to try them. Vegetables and fruits are other inconveniences in the second part of the expedition, but if proper maintenance is achieved, they can be regulated.

Aconcagua Climbing – Don’t Forget to be Well Fed

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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.