Aconcagua Expedition Mountain Guides

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UIAGM / IFMGA Internationally Certified Mountain Guides

AMGA Certified Alpine Guide, Rock Guide & Ski Mountaineering Guides

ACONCAGUA NORMAL ROUTE EXPEDITION w/ Porters

| Itinerary Below
| Schedule & Rates

On the summit of Aconcagua

Route Description

Our newest expedition, via the Normal Route, with Porters, is a variation of our original Aventuras Patagonicas expedition offered over a decade ago. Although our Guanacos Valley Route, to date, remains the most pristine route on the mountain, we have received many requests for a shorter route on Aconcagua, with the option of porter assist. To satisfy these requests we have designed a new alternative of ascending the Normal Route of Aconcagua, (mules carrry loads to Base Camp, as usual), and porters carry loads from Base Camp to High Camp, as needed.

Aconcagua penitentes
(photo: Dan Holmes)

Over the past few seasons we have purposely chosen not to guide the Normal Route for aesthetic reasons, due to the route's overuse, causing the route in general to be unappealing. We began exploring other options on the mountain, to offer fresh alternatives and challenges to our clients, resulting in our Guanacos Valley and Traverse Route which has been extremely successful and well received. But due to popular demand,

View from High Camp

we have re-introduced the Normal Route with a new twist, for those of you who find the Guanacos not what you are looking for. If you are not bothered by the overcrowding of the Normal Route, seeing many other climbers while climbing, enjoy the social aspect of Base Camp (meeting climbers of all nationalities!), and feel regular loads (45 to 50 lbs) are too heavy for you, then our Normal Route with porters expedition is just the one for you! We have designed this trip so that at Base Camp you are able to decide how often you will need a porter, and so on. You may use a porter for every carry, you may choose to alternate between days, or simply to experiment as you go.

| Guanacos Valley w/ Traverse | Polish Glacier
| Ameghino Valley & Guanacos Traverse

Normal Route w/ Porters Itinerary

For a more detailed trip overview and itinerary, click here.

DAY 1:	Group meets in Mendoza, Argentina. Equipment check and afternoon briefing will be at the hotel. For dinner we will have a chance to taste fine Argentinean cuisine and wine.
DAY 2:	Drive West from Mendoza to Penitentes ski area at 8,500 . Our drive winds along the Rio Mendoza deep into the heart of the rugged Andes mountains where we begin our acclimatization in Penitentes. An afternoon hike is recommended, though optional.
DAY 3:	We will begin our approach to Base Camp. This 25 mile approach gives us the chance to begin our acclimatization. We follow the Horcones Valley, and camp our first night in Confluencia, at 10,900’. Mules carry our gear.
DAY 4:	Hike to the base of the majestic South Face of Aconcagua, at 13,000', toward Plaza Francia. Return to Confluencia to spend our 2nd night, before heading to Base Camp the next day. This hike will facilitate our acclimatization process.
DAY 5:	After 3 days of hiking through colorful desert landscape we reach our Base Camp, Plaza de Mulas, at 13,800'.
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 our next camp, and returning to sleep below at the previous camp. The next day we will move to the higher camp.This day (Day 6) we will practice snow and ice techniques on the Nieve Penitentes, unique snow and ice formations created by direct sunlight.
DAY 7:	Carry a load to Camp I, Plaza Canada, at 16,170 . Return to Base Camp.
DAY 8:	Leave Base Camp. Move to Camp I. Beautiful campsite with impressive views of the north side of Aconcagua and alpine Cerro Cuerno.
DAY 9:	Carry a load to Camp II, Nido de Condores, at 17,820'.
DAY 10:	Leave Camp I. Move to Camp II.
DAY 11:	Carry a load to Camp III, Piedras Blancas (High Camp) at 19,200'.
DAY 12:	Move to Camp III. This unique spot will be our High Camp where we will spend at least 2 nights. Here we are surrounded by interesting rock formations only a day from the summit.
DAY 13-14-15:	Summit! Weather permitting. We allow a window for our Summit Day in case of poor weather and depending on how group is acclimatizing.
DAY 16:	Descend from High Camp to Base Camp.
DAY 17:	Hike out the Horcones Valley with its impressive views of Aconcagua s South Face. Spend the night in Penitentes.
DAY 18:	Drive to Mendoza. Enjoy delicious banquet with your team. Spend night in Mendoza. Next Day fly home or continue traveling in South America.

Note: This itinerary is intended to be a guideline only, weather days and rest days are always a possibility while on a climbing expedition.

COST INCLUDES
Professional Mountain Guides, 2 nights hotel accommodation in Mendoza at the Mendoza Park Hyatt Hotel with breakfast buffet (1 night at the beginning of the expedition and 1 night at the end of the expedition), 2 nights hotel accommodation, breakfasts and dinners in Penitentes, all land transportation, mules, all expedition food, all community gear such as; tents, stoves, state of the art Base Camp, cooking gear, medical kits, satellite phones, radios, gamow bag, pulse-oximeters, etc.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
Round-trip flights to and from Mendoza, Argentina, Aconcagua climbing permit fee (approx $250, which you will pay in Mendoza, accompanied by your guide), meals in Mendoza, personal equipment, passport, personal items and services (laundry, snacks, drinks, tips, etc.), *Porter fee (if used), expenses incurred in the case of a rescue or early departure from the expedition, and SAT phone charges.

*PORTERS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE, BUT NOT INCLUDED, YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW IF YOU WISH A PORTER AND WE WILL HAVE IT ALL ARRANGED FOR YOU. Porters cost $120 to $160 per load carry .You will need a maximum of 5 to 6 load carries from Base Camp to High Camp and back down to Base Camp again, if you choose to have a porter for each carry, and move, and for the descent of the mountain. Porters will be available at Base Camp. The final number of estimated load carries may be decided at Base Camp.

Aconcagua Expedition Mountain Guides

SUGGESTED READING

NORMAL ROUTE

ACONCAGUA NORMAL ROUTE EXPEDITION w/ Porters

On the summit of Aconcagua Route Description

Normal Route w/ Porters Itinerary

On the summit of Aconcagua

Route Description