Aventuras Patagonicas on Aconcagua Ameghino Valley Upper Guanacos Traverse with porters Full Itinerary

Aconcagua Ameghino Valley Upper Guanacos Traverse with porters Full Itinerary

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  Day 1

  Group meets in Mendoza, Argentina at the Mendoza Park - Hyatt Hotel. Please be at the hotel by 3 pm. Afternoon or evening team meeting at the hotel, individual equipment check with your guides. For dinner we will have a chance to taste the fine Argentinean cuisine and wine.
  

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  Day 2

  Get our permits at the Aconcagua Park Service office. Drive west from Mendoza to Penitentes ski area at 8,500’. Lunch stop in Uspallata on the way. Our drive winds along the Rio Mendoza deep into the heart of the rugged Andes mountains where we begin our acclimatization in Penitentes. Afternoon hike is recommended, though optional.
  

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  Day 3 - 5

  Approach to Base Camp. Hike up the Vacas and Ameghino Valleys to Base Camp. Mules will carry our gear. Here we begin the route, which was established in 1934 by a Polish Expedition. Even today this eastern approach to the mountain is not as heavily traveled as the Normal Route. After three days of spectacular, colorful, high desert scenery we reach our Base Camp, at 13,800’. The hike to Base Camp is approximately 40 kilometers and gives us the perfect chance to begin our acclimatization.
  

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  Day 6

  Rest and acclimatization day at Base Camp. We want everyone to have the best possible chance to make the summit. The most effective way to do this is to take the time to acclimatize to the low oxygen environment. We will incorporate rest days into our schedule and climb in traditional expedition style. We will be carrying loads up to the next camp and returning to sleep below at the previous camp. The next day we will move to the higher camp. This is an excellent method of acclimatization, which is our main focus throughout your expedition.
  
  

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  Day 7

  Carry a load to Camp I, at 16,300’. The route goes up a gentle trail on the rocky moraine-covered Relinchos Glacier situated between Cerro Aconcagua and Cerro Ameghino. Here we will be able to see Nieve Penitentes, unique snow and ice formations created by the direct sun. Return to Base Camp.
  
  

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  Day 8

  Organize for upper mountain. Possible rest and acclimatization day in Base Camp, if needed. Otherwise, leave Base Camp. Move to Camp I
  
  

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  Day 9

  Carry a load to Camp II, at 17,500’. Fantastic view of the Polish Glacier. We ascend scree slopes to a broad ridge crest where we will establish Camp II. Here we reconnect with our UPPER GUANACOS VALLEY ROUTE! After reaching the Ameghino saddle, a gentle easy traverse takes us to Camp II.
  
  

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  Day 10

  Move to Camp II. Be aware that from Base Camp on, there may be changes to the itinerary as needed depending on weather, the group, and acclimatization. Flexibility and adaptation are key to success. For instance, it is possible your guide may elect to have an extra rest day at Base Camp, or a rest day at Camp 1 or even Camp 2, or to even skip Camp 2 in some situations and move straight to Camp 3, depending on the group. This style and tactic is part of our success. We may save a day which can be used later for a rest or a weather day at High Camp. This style creates one of the best upper mountain acclimatization possibilities on Aconcagua.
  The results are overwhelmingly positive: a team well acclimatized.

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  Day 11

  Move to Camp III, at 17,800’. A carry may not be needed today, since we have already done our short carry, most likely the day before. This is an easy day, where we traverse from the saddle to the upper Guanacos, elevation gain is minimum.

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  Day 12

  Carry to High Camp, Piedras Blancas (White Rocks), at 19,200’.
  
  

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  Day 13

  Move to High Camp, from where we will tackle the summit the next day.
  
  

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  Day 14 - 17

  Summit! Weather permitting. We leave several days for our summit day in case of poor weather. Some of these weather or rest days may be used at lower camps for better acclimatization.
  
  

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  Day 18

  Descend the Normal Route, on the west side of Aconcagua, all the way to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp, at 13,800’. This is a more direct descent than our approach of the east side of Aconcagua.

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  Day 19

  Hike out the Horcones Valley with its impressive views of Aconcagua's South Face. Mules carry our gear. We arrive in the afternoon to Penitentes where we may take a quick shower and head on to Mendoza to the comfort of the Mendoza Park Hyatt. If extra weather and acclimatization days are not used on our expedition, you and your team may arrive a day or two earlier to Mendoza. Evening banquet with your team, if too late summit Certificates will be given at breakfast or lunch the next day.
  

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  20

  Leisure day in Mendoza, possibly fly home this afternoon or continue traveling in South America.