PJSChallenges | MT ACONCAGUA

Mt Aconcagua
Argentina

ABOUT MOUNT ACONCAGUA

Altitude - 6,962m (22,842ft)

Grading Level - E3 (click HERE to find out more about our grading)

Best months to go: November - February

The climb is very weather dependent but our high guiding ratios, small group size and levels of support generally gives us a big advantage and improves our summit success.

We provide leaders/guides on a ratio of 1:3 throughout the expedition and the team is limited to 9 or 10 climbers. Our aim is to reduce the physical hardship and create maximum flexibility to give you the best chance of summit success as we can more easily deal with clients varying walking speeds/fitness and weather.

Mountain Porters are available to carry group gear (tents, stoves, shovels, fuel) at an extra cost. Your guide will assist you with tent placement, cooking and water preparation at the high camps. The expedition will still be physically challenging and you will still have to work hard to reach the summit.

Named ‘Acconcahuac’ (the stone sentinel) by the Incas, Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Southern and Western hemispheres, the second highest of the Seven Summits and the world’s highest summit outside of the Himalaya.

Our approach to Base camp will be from the North East through the Vacas Valley. This is a much less frequented approach than the normal Horcones Valley, giving you a far better experience away from the crowds. The Vacas Route offers the strong mountain walker, with prior ice axe and crampons experience, the opportunity to ascend one of the world’s highest trekking summits. Although you will not require any previous climbing experience, the ascent is at very high altitude and therefore requires a high level of fitness, commitment and determination.

Hotel accommodation is at the Diplomatic Hotel, Mendoza before and after the climb. On the climb itself, camping is in two man tents. A single supplement is available for the hotel and in tents up to Base Camp, however above Base Camp all tents are shared. Food during the approach is prepared by guides to a high standard. At Base Camp we use chefs and full kitchens. Food at high camps becomes more basic (mountain food).
In Mendoza and on the walk in, it can be very hot. Wearing shorts and t-shirts with sunhats and plenty of suncream is the norm. However, there can also be torrential rain on the walk in, so full waterproofs are essential. From Base Camp upwards there can be heavy snowfalls and from Camp 1 up, the wind makes for severe wind chill. At high camp and on summit day the temperature can drop to -15 Celsius. So down jackets, good mitts and double boots are essential.

The climb up Aconcagua is non-technical. Therefore, it is suitable for mountain walkers with previous winter walking experience. The route can sometimes be free of snow throughout or can have a solid covering of snow. It is preferred that clients have prior experience climbing to around 6,000m before attempting Aconcagua together with experience of carrying 13-14kg (even though porters can carry all group equipment).

Although the ascent of Aconcagua is not technically difficult it is quite a long summit day (from 5,900m at high camp to the 6,962m summit). This could take 7-10 hours to ascend and 2-4 hours to descend and can prove to be extremely tiring. You should make sure you are fit and used to long mountain days.

For the Itinerary

Click down below

Click me

What's included?

Fully certified, English speaking guides
All accommodation (Mendoza & National Park) ased on two people sharing twin/double rooms
2 nights hotel accommodation at the Diplomatic Hotel, Mendoza (1 night at the beginning of the expedition and 1 night at the end of the expedition)
Full board during the expedition
Water: end-to-end drinking water (including water carriers, if needed). This is an increasingly important issue, given the dramatic reduction of the glaciers and streams on Aconcagua
All transfers in licensed, private shuttles
Mules transport of gear and supplies, to and from BC
Permanent VHF radio communication
All expedition food
All group gear for the expedition (sleeping tents, stoves and cooking gear, radio, etc)
Free internet at BC (limitations apply)
All guides are equipped with professional first aid kits and pulse oximeters to monitor acclimatization progress
Assistance with the required climbing permit procedure
One porter for every four climbers, to carry 20 kg of group gear
One personal porter per person, 15 kg for personal gear and 5 for common gear

What's not included?

Round-trip flights to and from Mendoza, Argentina
Aconcagua climbing permit fee (Approx. $950 depending on season)
Evacuation insurance (required by Mt. Aconcagua State Park)
Meals in Mendoza
Personal equipment medications, ground or air evacuations, room services, laundry, beverages, phone communications and items of personal nature, insurance liability, hospitalization or medication of any kind, any other service not mentioned in this list
Any cost incurred by the climber for leaving the trip early (such as transfers, mules, guide, etc). We strongly recommend all participants to buy trip cancelation insurance
SAT phone charges
*Extra porter fee (If used)