The “Seven Summits” are a collection of the world’s seven highest mountains, including South America’s own Aconcagua. It’s also the most elevated trekking peak, though just because it’s called a “trekking peak” doesn’t make it any less of a challenge. This Aconcagua expedition is hard because of the high altitude and the fact that the weather is hard to predict.
Tough but not technically challenging under ideal conditions. Climbing is challenging under ideal conditions but nearly impossible under adverse ones. Because of this, we schedule a lot of downtime and extra days in case something goes wrong. It is the best way to get to the top of the mountain and see the amazing views of the Andes.
Here are a few interesting facts
- As the second-highest peak in the world after Mount Everest, Aconcagua is the highest point in both hemispheres.
- The seven summits include Aconcagua, the highest mountain on every continent. Of the seven, it is second only to Mount Everest in Asia in terms of altitude.
- Adrienne Bance, a Frenchwoman, became the first female to summit the mountain on March 7, 1940.
- An early attempt at climbing Aconcagua was made in 1833 by German explorer Paul Gussfeldt, who got within 500 meters of the peak.
- Aconcagua’s distance from the equator contributes to the mountain’s already notoriously fickle climate. Increasing distance from the equator reduces the density of the atmosphere. Because of this, the effects of altitude and the weather are amplified.
- Swiss mountaineer Matthias Zurbriggen achieved this feat first. He accomplished this Aconcagua guided climb all on his own in 1897.
- About 160 kilometers separate Mount Aconcagua from the Pacific. On sunny days, there are clear views of the Pacific Ocean from the peak.
Geographical Information
You may have become interested in this mountain because of the exciting stories and background you’ve heard about it. Let’s learn more about its location, like how high Aconcagua is.
- Mountain ranges are divided into seven continents with the seven highest peaks.
- It’s the second-most remote mountain on the planet.
- Aconcagua’s treks are so far from the equator that its weather is infamously fickle. Moving away from the equator reduces the atmosphere’s density, which causes deteriorating weather conditions. The weather in Aconcagua is very hard to predict, and the altitude has profound effects.
Life in Aconcagua
If you’ve read up on Aconcagua’s background and geography, you might be curious about the variety of flora and fauna found there. Aconcagua Mountain is a stunning example of Mother Nature, so let’s discuss it.
- The average time to reach the summit is 21 days.
- Open pastures are made up of grasses like ichu and huecu, and there are many low bushes, such as yellow firewood, goat horn, and yareta.
- Purple eagles, condors, and a snipe species called agachonas are just a few of the birds that call this area home.
- Spotted sandpipers and torrents, a duck species, can be found in limited wetland areas. Typical mammals such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes are also present.