Climb Aconcagua, 12 days

The 12-day Aconcagua Climbing Program is a shortened version of the classic Aconcagua Climbing Program. The acclimatisation in this program has a much tighter schedule, so the mountain is much less forgiving of mistakes in tactics and physical preparation. Don’t forget the medical supervision at the base camp, where the doctor must check the acclimatisation of the members and allow or not allow them to go to the mountain. Of course, it is possible to renounce the responsibility of the National Park, but in this case you lose the free help of the rangers in case of emergency. It should be added that, for obvious reasons, this program remains the most popular of all the companies that carry out Aconcagua climbs. The percentage of climbs is lower than in the three-week program.

Day 1. Arrive in Mendoza. Important! On Saturdays the permit office is only open until noon! Obtaining the permit for Aconcagua. Transfer to Penitentes (2700m). Sending of the main mules to the base camp. Arrival at the hotel.
Day 2. Transfer to the entrance of the National Park (Laguna Horcones) and walk to the confluence (3300m, 2-3 hours). Setting up the camp. After lunch, easy acclimatisation walk.
Day 3. Early acclimatisation walk to Plaza de Francia (4200m) with views of the south wall (2700m). 4-5 hours. Return to camp.
Day 4. Long trek (8-9 hours) to the main base camp – Plaza de Mulas (4350m). The trail follows the wide valley of Playa Ancha. Setting up the camp.
Day 5. Ascent from Plaza de Mulas to Camp 2 (Nido de Condores, 5400m), descent to Plaza de Mulas (4350m), rest.
Day 6. Rest day.
Day 7. Ascent from Plaza de Mulas (4350m) to Nido de Condores (5400m).
Day 8. Climb from Nido de Condores (5600m) to camp 3 (Cholera, 6000m).
Day 9. Climb to the summit of Aconcagua (6957m), descent to camp 3 (6000m).
Day 10. Reserve day in case of bad weather
Day 11. Descent to the Plaza de Mulas base camp. Trek from the base camp to the Laguna de Horcones. Transfer to Mendoza. Farewell dinner.
Day 12. Departure.

• English speaking guide throughout the program.
• Mountain guides. One for every 3 people on the summit day.
• Transfer airport-hotel-airport.
• Hotel in Mendoza, 1 night. Double room + breakfast.
• Assistance in obtaining the necessary permits.
• Transfer Mendoza-Puento del Inca-Mendoza.
• Hotel in Puente del Inca + breakfast.
• Mules for equipment and food from Puente del Inca (Los Puquios) to Plaza de Mulas and back. Personal luggage up to 20 kg.
• Two nights full board in Confluence.
• The base camp in Plaza de Mulas (3 nights).
• Food and fuel for the upper camps.
• First aid kit.

• International flights
• Climbing permit
• Porters
• Personal equipment
• Additional costs due to deviations from the program
• Medical insurance and accident evacuation costs
• Personal expenses (drinks, internet, phone calls, etc.)
• Any costs related to program changes
• Any costs caused by the changing of the programs

Documents:

• Valid passport
• Flight tickets
• Medical insurance

Personal equipment:

• Backpack. 50-60l.
• Sleeping bag, comfort temperature from -25C to -15C.
• Sleeping mattress.
• Trekking poles.
• Crampons, can be aluminium.
• Ice axe. Classic, on a lanyard. Can be lightweight or combined with a ski pole.
• Helmet.
• Harness.
• Carabiners, 3 pieces.
• Cup-Spoon-Bowl.

Clothes and footwear:

• Mountaineering Double or triple boots. Double: plastic or leather. For plastic we recommend Scarpa Vega – they seem to be the warmest of the double boots.
• Trainers or trekking boots. Ideally both. Sneakers for the base camp trail, light boots for the acclimatisation exit and base camp. You can also just have trainers.
• Waterproof layer – jacket + trousers. The industry offers a wide range of products, from simple 5000/5000 membranes to Gore-Tex products.
• Fleece suit.
• Thermal underwear layer – top and bottom
• Thick and warm down coat.
• Thick gloves.
• Thin gloves.
• Bandana (in addition to protecting you from the sun in the valley, can be used to warm your neck or face in the cold).
• A cap.
• Warm trekking socks for the day of the climb.

Miscellaneous:

• LED headlamp.
• A pair of sunglasses.
• Ski goggles.
• 1L thermos. Preferably without a button on the lid.
• Windproof mask for the lower part of the face (can be partially replaced by a scarf).
• Gaiters.
• Sun block and lip balm.
• Chemical heaters (not essential, but can be very useful).
• Personal first aid kit.
• Elastic bandage and/or support bandage.