Intro
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the world outside the Himalaya. It stands at 6954m in Argentina just inside the border with Chile on approximately the same latitude as Santiago. The imposing and impressive South Face boasts some of the hardest 'big wall' routes in the world.
Approaching it via the normal route the gradient is a little gentler. Having said this it is by no means an easy mountain. It is high. It is renowned for having extremely low temperatures and in poor weather the mountain can be beset by ferocious winds. Sounds like the thing for you?
Read on...
Difficulty: Extreme
Duration: expedition
Quick Facts
- guiding by qualified mountain leaders.
- 3 week round trip from the UK
- 'big mountain' expedition
- Mule/porter assistance to base camp
- We run this trip between December and February.
- Set open dates or bespoke courses for individuals to larger groups - just ask if the date you want is not listed.
- Many years experience in providing mountaineering courses
- You need to have very good fitness/stamina and be prepared to sleep in a tent for 2 weeks
A real must for any serious outdoor enthusiast!
Typical Itinerary
The objective of this expedition is an ascent of Aconcagua via the 'normal' route. The best, and really only realistic, time of the year to attempt this mountain is during the southern hemisphere summer (December - February). This produces 'acceptable' temperatures at higher altitudes, and often longer periods of high pressure.
Flexibility will be possible and necessary depending upon individuals' ability, the weather and any other factors. There are several routes up this big mountain, ranging from the technically easy to the extreme. We take the so-called normal route from Puenta del Inca up the Horcones Valley to Plaza de Mulas. A round trip from London takes 23 days, departure on a Saturday, returning on a Sunday. This gives sufficient time to acclimatise properly, leaves 3 summit days to allow for poor weather and a few days to recuperate afterwards.
| Day | Activity |
| Week One | |
| Saturday | Depart London (or whichever is your departure airport whether in the UK or not) for Mendoza via Buenos Aires. |
| Sunday | Arrive in Mendoza. A chance to experience the relaxed culture of Argentina. So different than hectic London. Sort trekking permits in the afternoon. Evening meal. |
| Monday | Transfer from Mendoza to Puenta del Inca (~2700m). This is the final village before the trek to base camp. Here we will arrange for the bulk of our luggage to be carried by mules to bc. There are comfortable lodgings here. The village is characterised by the natural arch spanning the river and also some fantastic hot underground springs. It's a bit of a squash but four can fit in the pool at a time! |
| Tuesday | Depart from Puenta del Inca, pass the ranger station and enter the Aconcagua National Park. It is a 6 hour walk to Confluencia campsite(3368m) where we spend the first night. Be prepared for hot sun in the valley should there be good weather. Don't forget a cap! |
| Wednesday | Acclimatisation day to Plaza Francia (~4500m) and then back to Confluencia. About 8hr round trip to the traditional base camp for south face climbs. You will recognise it from your view out of the plane. Any route on the south face is an extreme undertaking. Mountaineering luminaries such as Reinhold Messner have completed routes here. |
| Thursday | A long day up the Horcones Valley taking you around the side of Aconcagua. An early start is recommended here to avoid the heat of the sun. As you gain height later in the day it will cool down. You pass the old base camp just before the final ascent to Plaza de Mulas (4230m) base camp for the trip. |
| Friday | A week after leaving London you are comfortably ensconced on the side of a mountain in Argentina. This day is an acclimatisation/rest day. If you have the energy you can explore the glacier running down from the prominent peak Cerro Cuerno (5462m) and practice your ice climbing skills, otherwise just kick back and enjoy the view. |
| Week Two | |
| Saturday | Load carry to Camp Canada (4877m). Experience has shown that the old mountaineering adage of 'climb high sleep low' holds true, and hence we drop a load at Camp Canada and return to Base Camp. 6 hr round trip. |
| Sunday | Load carry to Nido de Condores (5365m) a large flat area, with some rocks serving as a wind break. This is a long day with a height gain of about 1150m. Return to Base Camp. |
| Monday | Acclimatisation/rest day. After two hard days you will be glad of the chance to rest the legs, play cards and generally just relax. You can take a wander to the Refugio close to Base Camp for some hot chocolate! |
| Tuesday | Now we move onto the mountain proper. We depart Base Camp for Camp Canada. We will be glad of the acclimatisation days which should stand in good stead now. Camp Canada is located about 500m off the main trail on a prominent outcrop enjoying splendid views over the valley. |
| Wednesday | Depart Camp Canada and move on to Nido de Condores. There is a small pond here from which water can be collected in the afternoon. Staying hydrated is one of the main challenges on Aconcagua. The combination of extreme exertion, heat during the day and altitude leads to rapid dehydration. To avoid this it is necessary to consume large quantities of liquid. |
| Thursday | Acclimatisation/rest day at Nido. Even the most energetic will be glad of the chance to recuperate for the subsequent summit attempt. Looking South East from the camp site you can see the upper part of the mountain. |
| Friday | We start east from Nido and then turn south up a subtle crest of ridge to Berlin Camp (5950m).This is our high camp. |
| Week Three | |
| Saturday | Given good weather conditions we will make an attempt on the summit today. It is about 10 hours from Berlin to the summit. Return that night to Berlin. |
| Sunday | Descend from Berlin to base camp. |
| Monday | Flexi day – to be used anywhere throughout the expedition if we become delayed. Experience on expeditions has shown how useful it is to have these days. Even during the build up to the trip permits may take longer than planned, planes may be delayed etc. The list goes on and it gives us the chance to know we have these in reserve. |
| Tuesday | Last day at base camp. Should the flexi days not be necessary for the summit then a group decision can be made whether to rest for a day at Plaza de Mulas or use them in Mendoza later on. |
| Wednesday | A long walk down the Horcones valley from Plaza de Mulas to Puenta del Inca and a reasonable altitude for the first time in two weeks. It will also be the first time in a bed for 14 nights which will be appreciated. |
| Thursday | Transfer from Puenta del Inca to Mendoza. It will feel like a long lost friend by this time. |
| Friday | Flexi day - to be used anywhere throughout the expedition if we become delayed or the chance to enjoy a day at leisure and have a cold beer in some of the cafes. |
| Saturday | Depart Mendoza. |
| Sunday | Arrive London (or whichever is your departure airport whether in the UK or not). |
Please note: This itinerary is a guide only. It can be subject to change dependent upon viability, course members' fitness, weather conditions or for any other reason the guide may deem necessary.
Flights
We can arrange for all members of the trip to fly out to Argentina together! Departure will be on the Friday or Saturday evening from LHR. The price of the flight is not included in the trip price. Team members are free to select an alternative flight and meet us in Mendoza should they wish or if they are flying to Argentina from outside the UK.
Pre-expedition Weekend
To ensure that all team members are 'singing off the same song sheet' we will have a week end away approximately 3 months before the trip to run through all the necessary details. This will give all team members a chance to get to know each other, us a chance to brief you on the planned trip in more detail, go out for a walk on the hills together and visit a local store for equipment purchases. The precise date will be agreed with all members of the trip. A final trip dossier will be released shortly after this weekend.
Altitude
This trek visits high altitudes! You will be spending nearly two weeks at or above 4000m which is serious altitude. It is imperative you are properly acclimatised not only to have a safe trip, but also an enjoyable one as altitude sickness has the capacity to make you feel very miserable, or even worse! If you show signs of altitude sickness, appropriate measures (i.e. descent) must be taken. Although we will pace the trip to ensure sufficient acclimatisation, it is strongly recommended you inform yourself as much as possible about this issue before starting this trip.
Accommodation
The accommodation is in twin room accommodation in a comfortable hotel in Mendoza, a lodge at Puenta del Inca and tents during the time on the mountain.
Passport/Visa Requirements
Please ensure you have the correct visa for entry into Argentina should you need one. Your passport must be current and the expiry date should be at least 6 months after the return date of the trip.
Vaccinations
For medical and inoculations advice contact your GP before you travel. Do this in good time (3 months) as many injections/ treatments must be given a certain time apart.
Course Requirements
This should not be your first trek outside of the UK!!! You should be mentally and physically prepared for the difficulties of this trip and we believe this comes from previous experience of other treks/expeditions. You should have wild camping experience, previous exposure to extremes of temperature and also altitude. You do not necessarily need previous technical climbing experience. Previous typical peaks may include Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro or other mountains of that ilk.
You need to be physically fit to enjoy this trek or even just to take part in this trip. You will be carrying a heavy rucksack for the duration of the walk. Visit your local gym or go for bike rides. If you don't know which exercises are best to train up then speak to a fitness expert from your local gym. If you arrive there suitably conditioned then you will enjoy the trip so much more and maybe even be successful! You will need to be fit enough to complete 14hr days on the hill in Argentina. Obviously not every day is like that but the summit day and some of the others are long, so you must be fit! We do not recommend this as your first trek outside of the UK. Previous trips to mountains such as Kilimanjaro or others of a similar altitude should already be in the bag.
Dates
We endeavour to put together a team of competent mountaineers/ walkers who have a realistic chance of reaching the summit of this mountain. If you are interested, then please register your interest by clicking on the link below.
We are running a trip for 2010/11, the dates are:
| 27 Dec 2010 - 18 Jan 2011 | Last few spaces | Book now |
If you have a group of 8 or more people we will be happy to run an exclusive trip for yourselves.
Create Your Own Trip Dates
Price & Inclusions
- Professional event organisation.
- Qualified mountain leaders.
- Arrival and departure transport from Mandoza Aiport.
- Twin room hotel accommodation with breakfast when not on trek. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
- Full board accommodation in tents whilst on the trek.
- Mule assistance for equipment to base camp.
- Aconcagua national park fees
- Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders.
2010/2011 price - £2599pp
