Aconcagua is a mountain in the Principal Cordillera of the Andes Mountain range, in Mendoza Province, Argentina. It is the highest mountain in the Americas, the highest outside Asia, and the highest in both the Southern and the Western Hemispheres with a summit elevation of 6,962 meters.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
If you want to get there, you must know that you need a very good physical preparation and the experience of at least one expedition in high mountains: Elbrus in the Caucasus, Damavand in Iran, Kilimanjaro or Rwenzori, Africa. It must be said that this mountain is part of the regional park called Aconcagua Provincial Park and having glaciers, the most massive of which are the Poles Glacier and the English Glacier.
WHERE DOES THE NAME OF THE ACONAGUA PEAK COME FROM?
The mountain is not a volcano, but a wrinkle mountain. About the name of the mountain, there are opinions that claim that it comes from the Quechua language, from the expression “Ackon Cahuak” which means “Stone Sentinel”. Some historians attribute the name of the mountain to the Arauca language, being a transformation of the expression “Aconca-Hue”, the former name of the Aconcagua river. In Chile it was said that it means that the respective river “is from the other side”, especially since the natives believed that the river originates from the western slope of the mountain.
You should also know that at the altitude of the Andes, the atmospheric pressure on the summit of Aconcagua is about 40% of the atmospheric pressure at sea level. However, it is not necessary to use supplemental oxygen.
It is good to know that it is necessary to purchase a permit from the authority responsible for the maintenance of the entire area, the Aconcagua Regional Park located in Mendoza, the Argentine mountain rangers.
EXPEDITION COST:
Do contact VIJAY +6592700908(WHATSAPP) or Email : contact@sgtrek.com
EXPEDITION DATE: 13 Jan – 31 Jan 2024
THE DETAILED SCHEDULE OF THE EXPEDITION FROM ACONCAGUA
Day 1 and 2, 13 and 14 January :
On the first day Santiago de Chile to Mendoza, a city located at the foot of the Andes mountains, from here the expeditions to Cerro Aconcagua start. We will arrive the next afternoon in Argentina, in Mendoza, after a long and tiring flight.
After settling in at the hotel, we start the operations to obtain the access permit to Parque Aconcagua and stock up on the food and fuel needed for the expedition.
Accommodation – Mendoza hotel
Day 3, January 15 :
During the day we will reach the settlement of Penitentes, at 2600m, and stay at the cabin. During the day, we prepare the heavy luggage, tents, food, fuel, altitude equipment, these will be transported by mules to the base camp Plaza de Mulas 4350m.
You must know that we will recover the heavy luggage on the day of arrival at the base camp.
Accommodation at the Penitentes cabin.
Day 4, January 16 :
We enter the “Parque Provincial Aconcagua”, and at the access gate the documents are checked. We will start to climb gently towards the Horcones valley and the Confluencia camp, 3300m, where we will arrive after about 4 hours of walking.
Here we will settle in Dome Tents, which are equipped with individual beds and mattresses. Also on this day, we do the mandatory medical check-up.
Accommodation in camping tents in the Confluencia camp.
Day 5, January 17:
It’s time for an acclimatization tour to Plaza Francia, 4,000m, which will take about 7-8 hours total time. Here, we will admire the impressive steeps of the southern face of the Aconcagua peak, 3000m difference in level compared to Plaza Francia!
In the southern area of the peak there are extremely difficult wall and ice climbing routes, where only experienced climbers climb. We descend towards Confluencia, where we rest for the next day’s ascent.
Accommodation in Dome Tents, Confluencia camp.
Day 6, January 18:
We will leave for Plaza de Mulas and we will start by crossing Horcones superior, a mountain river, then we will pass by Piedra Roja and Piedra Ibañez, two rocky areas where we will stop and have a small snack.
In about 8-10 hours from our departure, we will reach the base camp – Plaza de Mulas, 4,350m.
Here we set up in camp tents (Dome Tents), provided with beds and mattresses, also here we will find our heavy luggage, sent 2 days before, which was transported by mules.
We do the medical visit again, which is mandatory. The health condition of climbers is very important.
If they are not in a suitable state of health from the point of view of acclimatization, the doctors can decide to send them to the lower camps or even evacuate them from the Park.
Accommodation in Dome Tents,
Plaza de Mulas camp.
Day 7, January 19:
On this day, we will do an easy acclimatization tour of about 4-5 hours and we will climb one of the higher areas around the camp.
We will climb towards the upper Horcones Glacier, where you will get to know the ice formations called “penitentes”.
Accommodation in camping tents in the Plaza de Mulas camp.
Day 8, January 20:
Today we will continue the acclimatization process and climb a peak of over 5000m – Cerro Bonete, 5004m in a circuit of 4-5 hours.
Accommodation in camping tents in Plaza de Mulas.
Day 9, January 21:
This day we will go up to Camp Alaska 5,350m or Nido de Condores, about 150m higher (we will decide together where to put the altitude camp) and we will take part of the equipment: the altitude tents where we will sleep the following nights, fuel and food – after which we go down to Plaza de Mulas.
Circuit duration: 7-9 hours.
And today we will have to go to the medical visit!
Accommodation in camping tents, Plaza de Mulas camp.
Day 10, January 22:
We will go up again to Camp Alaska or Nido de Condores, taking the rest of the equipment with us.
We will settle in the altitude tents and serve a hot meal that we will take care to prepare at the primus. We will have a discussion with the National Park rangers from the camp at Nido de Condores, so we will find out the last details about the weather. Also, we will
take care of the tea for the next day.
Route duration: 5-6 hours.
Accommodation in high-altitude mountain tents, in the Alaska camp.
Day 11, January 23:
We pull up the tent and the equipment and set off for the “Cólera” Camp, altitude 5950m. We will set up our tents here, prepare tea (at least 3 liters per person, prepared from the snow that we will constantly melt at the primus) and rest as soon as possible, because we have a short night and a little morning waiting for us “attack” the highest peak in the 2 Americas, Aconcagua!
Accommodation in high-altitude mountain tents.
Day 12, January 24:
Early in the morning, around 4 o’clock, we will leave for Cerro Aconcagua, 6962m, the highest peak of the Americas. During the ascent, carried out in a piercing cold, we will pass the area called Piedras Blancas – altit. 6050m, we reach the former Refugio Independencia, 6350m.
Here, a break is mandatory for hydration and for mounting the corners, because there are areas with snow and even ice.
We will climb to the “Las Cuevas” area – approx. 6,650m, a location located at the base of “Canaletta”, an inclined trail that requires a sustained effort to climb it, a trail located right before the peak.
Total duration: 13-15 hours, the route being steep, but without technical difficulties.
But beware! Next comes the hardest part of the route, namely the descent to Camp Cólera which lasts around 6 hours, our body is already tired, so we will have to call on the last energy resources!
Accommodation in high-altitude mountain tents – Cholera Camp.
Day 13, January 25:
In the morning we wake up in the Andean sunrise, gather our equipment and go down to Plaza de Mulas.
The duration of the route to Base Camp is about 5-6 hours. On this day, we will stay in the “Dome Tents” campaign tents in this camp.
Also today, we will hand over the heavy luggage, which will go down with the mules to Penitentes.
Accommodation in camping tents, Aconcagua base camp – Plaza de Mulas.
Day 14, January 26:
On this day, we descend for about 7-9 hours through the wilderness of the valley of the Horcones river to Confluencia, a physically quite difficult route, but we still retreat to the exit of the Park, where we will stay at the Penitentes cabin, during the evening!
Penitentes area cottage accommodation.
Day 15, January 27:
After about 3-4 hours of driving, we meet again with the capital of Argentine wine, the beautiful city at the foot of the Cordillera Andes, Mendoza!
We settle down at the hotel and relax! This evening, we will celebrate the success of the ascent of the Aconcagua peak at a festive meal in the city and we will taste the famous Argentinian wine!
We will have 2 days in reserve, because in the Andes mountains we can face moments of unfavorable weather, but also in case of the installation of some difficulties generated by the acclimatization of the climbers!
****If we manage to climb the peak on the 12th day – we will then spend our time until the date of the flight to the country in the capital of the Andes, Mendoza. Each of us will pay for our accommodation at the hotel, only 2 days of accommodation are included in the program, according to the contract with the local agency of mountain guides in Argentina.
Day 16, January 28!
Hotel accommodation in Mendoza (not included)!
Day 17, January 29:
***Free program at the participants’ choice!
If you want, we can go to a zebra ‘hacienda’ in the area, where we can go horse riding or go for a wine tasting!
Hotel accommodation in Mendoza (not included).
Day 18, January 30:
Day 19, January 31:
We will arrive in Bucharest at Henri Coanda International Airport, during the evening.
Services Included/Excluded:
Included services:
- Professional mountain guide services
- 2 nights accommodation at the Mendoza hotel, 3* with breakfast included – sharing basis
- 2 nights accommodation at the Penitentes cabin 2600m alt. , with dinner and breakfast included – sharing basis
- Accommodation on the mountain in “Dome Tents”, 2 nights at the Confluencia camp and 5 nights (4 on the way out and 1 on the way back) at Plaza de Mulas.
– All meals are included at the Confluencia camp (2 days) and then at the Plaza de Mulas camp (5 days).
****In the higher camps, accommodation will be provided by us in mountain tents, which we will share and take up the mountain!
– includes a large tent of the Dome Tents altitude type – where the ‘Dinning tent’ meal will be taken (Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas) - Use of ecological toilets in the Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas camps
- All car transfers between Mendoza airport and entry points/ exit from the Park and return.
(Attention! It is carried out in one trance with one minibus, with the whole group, not per person). - Transport of heavy equipment by mules, on the route from the entrance to the Penitentes park – to the Plaza de Mulas base camp and return (maximum 20 kg per tourist, but the transfer of the luggage of the whole group is carried out once, not per tourist)
- Free storage spaces at the hotel in Mendoza and at the Plaza de Mulas Base Camp
- 5W radio stations tuned to the frequencies of the base camp and the Guardaparque mountain rangers
Services not included:
- All International and Domestic Flights
- An Visa or Arrival permits in each country
- Access permit to the Aconcagua National Park: approx. 800 USD or more
(rate with assistance from us for the procurement of ascent permits) – season 2023- 24
– does not include more than 2 nights at the hotel in Mendoza, on the way back from the mountain we will each pay for our accommodation (50 USD per night/person) or more - Other meals than those specified, for example those in the city.
of at altitude, from the moment of leaving the Plaza de Mulas camp to the higher camps, Nido de Condores and Colera: in this case, we will buy dehydrated food together and prepare breakfast and dinner at Primus.
– it does not include the high mountain search and rescue insurance (about 90 USD), as well as the cost of evacuation or rescue from the mountain ( everyone will have insurance purchased personally for such operations).
****We recommend Global Rescue’s high mountain expedition insurance!
– other services not specified in the “included” category.
DETAILS ON HOW TO EQUIP YOURSELF FOR THE EXPEDITION
Technical equipment required:
– axe
– helmet recommended!
– altitude boots for 7000m, resistant to temperatures up to -25 degrees (La Sportiva, Mammut, Kayland)
– trekking boots for the tours up to the Plaza de Mulas camp
– down jacket
– trousers and overpants
– sweatshirt goretex
– gloves and overgloves
– snow guards
– polar blouse
– indispensable polar, softshell
– thermos 0.75 -1lt
– frontal flashlight, with spare batteries
– sleeping bag -16˚C thermal comfort (EN 13537)
– self-inflating mattress
– altitude boots
– trekking boots
– cap,
– hood, balaclava
– primus (there will be several people in one primus), saucepan, bowl, personal cutlery
– large rucksack 70-80lt
– rucksack for the peak 35-40lt
– SPF50 sun protection cream, SPF30 lip balm
– UVA, UVB polarized sunglasses for ascents on glaciers
– personal first aid kit
– survival sheet
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- Acknowledge all the TERMS & CONDITIONS: https://sgtrek.com/terms-conditions/
- Acknowledge that YOU have read and agreed to RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, EXPRESS ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT FORM of (SGTREK) : https://sgtrek.com/sgtrek-indemnity-form/
- YOU have read all the above paragraphs and YOU know, understand, and appreciate these and other risks that are inherent in The Activity. YOU hereby assert that your participation is voluntary and that YOU knowingly assume all such risks.
- YOU acknowledge the agreement freely and voluntarily, and intend by completing this form and unconditional release of all liability to SGTREK PTE. LTD.
TERMS & CONDITIONS: https://sgtrek.com/terms-conditions/
For any queries related to the event do contact below person:
Phone: +65 92700908 (WhatsApp)
Email : contact@sgtrek.com
This trip is organized by:
SGTREK PTE. LTD.
Reg. No. 201816267K
STB License No. 03160
Address: 28A, Kandahar Street
Singapore 198889
Email: contact@sgtrek.com
WhatsApp: +6592700908
Website: https://sgtrek.com
