Aconcagua, 12 days

Aconcagua, 12 days
Height (m)

6957
Duration

12 days
Difficulty

Moderate
Continent

South America

3,015 $

The short Aconcagua ascent program is well suited to alpinists in good physical shape with the experience of climbing above 5500m. If you don’t have a proper mountain experience, we recommend to spend more time and take advantage of Aconcagua ascent classical program.

Participants:

About the tour

Aconcagua ascent program for 12 days is a shortened version of the classic Aconcagua ascent program. Acclimatization in this program has a much tighter schedule, so the mountain forgives you much less mistakes in tactics and physical preparation. Do not forget about the medical supervision at the base camp, where the doctor is required to check acclimatization degree of members and allows them to go to the mountain or doesn’t allow. Of course, it is possible to abandon the national park responsibility, but in this case you lose the free rangers help in case of emergency. It can be added that, for obvious reasons, this program remains the most popular among all companies conducting Aconcagua ascent. The percentage of climbs is lower than in the three-week program.

Program of guided Aconcagua ascent by the classical route (12 days).

Day 1. Arrive in Mendoza. Important! On Saturdays office issuing permits is opened only until noon! Obtaining the permit to Aconcagua. Transfer to Penitentes (2700m). Sending the main cargo mules to Base Camp. Hotel.

Day 2. Transfer to the entrance of the National Park (Laguna Horcones) and proceed to the Confluence (3300m, 2-3 hours). Camp. After lunch, a light acclimatization walk.

Day 3. Early acclimatization walk to Plaza de Francia (4200m), with views of the South Face (2700 meters high). 4-5 hours. Return to the camp.

Day 4. Long hike (8-9 hours) to the main base camp – Plaza de Mulas (4350m). The path runs along the wide valley of Playa Ancha. 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. Climb 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. Aconcagua summit ascent (6957m), descent to Camp 3 (6000m).

Day 10. Reserve day in case of bad weather

Day 11. Descent to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp. Trek from the Base Camp to the Laguna de Horcones. Transfer to Mendoza. Farewell dinner.

Day 12. Departure.

The cost of Aconcagua ascent includes:

  • English-speaking guide throughout the whole program
  • Mountain guides. One per 3 people in the day of ascent
  • Transfer airport-hotel-airport
  • Hotel in Mendoza, 1 night. Double room + breakfast
  • Assistance in obtaining necessary permits
  • Transfer Mendoza-Puento del Inca-Mendoza
  • Hotel in Puento del Inka + breakfast
  • Mules for equipment and food from Puente del Inca (Los Puquios) to Plaza de Mulas and back. The personal baggage maximum of 20kg.
  • Two nights in Confluence with full board
  • The base camp at Plaza de Mulas (3 nights)
  • The food and fuel for the upper camps
  • First-aid kit

The cost of Aconcagua ascent doesn’t include:

  • International flights
  • Climbing permit
  • Porters
  • Personal equipment
  • Additional costs associated with deviation from the program
  • Health insurance and expenses relating to evacuation in case of accident
  • Personal expenses (drinks, internet, telephone calls, etc.)

  • Any costs associated with program changes

Equipment for Aconcagua ascent

Documents

  • Valid passport
  • Airline tickets
  • Medical Insurance

Personal equipment:

  • Backpack. 50-60l
  • Sleeping bag, comfort temperature from -25C to -15C
  • Sleeping mattress
  • Trekking poles
  • Crampons, can be aluminum
  • Ice ax. Classic, on lanyard. Can be lightweight or combined with a ski stick.
  • Helmet
  • Harness
  • Carbines, 3pcs
  • Mug-spoon-bowl

Clothes and footwear:

  • Mountaineering Double or triple boots. Double: plastic or leather. Among plastic ones we recommend Scarpa Vega – seem to be the warmest of all double shoes.
  • Sneakers or trekking boots. Ideally, both. Sneakers for the track in the base camp, light boots – for acclimatization exit and base camp. Although you can have sneakers only.
  • Waterproof layer – Jacket + trousers. The industry offers a wide range of products from simple membranes 5000/5000 to products from Gore-Tex.
  • Fleece costume.
  • Thermo underwear layer – top and bottom
  • Thick and warm down coat.
  • Thick gloves.
  • Thin gloves.
  • Bandana (in addition to protection from the Sun in the valley can be used to warm your throat or face in the cold)
  • Cap.
  • Warm trekking socks for the day of the ascent.

Miscellaneous:

  • LED headlamp
  • Sunglasses
  • Ski goggles
  • Thermos – 1L. Preferably without a button in the lid.
  • Windproof mask for the lower part of the face (partly can be replaced with a scarf)
  • Gaiters
  • Sunblock and lip balm
  • Chemical heaters (not necessarily, but can be very useful)
  • Personal first aid kit
  • Elastic bandage and / or supporting bandage.

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