Day 0-1:
Flight from your country of origin and arrival
in Mendoza, Argentina. We will meet you at the airport
and escort you into town and our comfortable accommodations.
There will be time to explore this wonderful city
known for it's steak dinners and fantastic red wine.
We will have a group dinner to discuss trip logistics.
Day 2:
A half-days drive to Penitentes, close our trailhead,
where we will stay the evening in dorm-style accommodations.
Day 3-5:
Trek with mule support to Plaza Argentina (13,780),
our basecamp. Mules will carry all of our equipment
so as to allow us to enjoy the beautiful three day
trek with light packs.
Day 6:
Acclimating/rest day in Plaza Argentina and
preparing for our ascent.
Day 7:
Carry some loads to Camp I, but returning to basecamp
for the night so as to practise the philosophy of
sleep low, climb high. Throughout the expedition we
take our acclimating very seriously and go slow so
as to remain safe and ensure the best chances for
summiting.
Day 8:
Rest day and acclimating in basecamp.
Day 9:
Move to Camp I (appriox. 15,500 ft) and spend the
night.
Day 10:
Either another rest day in Camp I or carry loads to
Camp II
Day 11:
Move to Camp II (approx. 17,700 ft)
Day12:
Rest day at Camp II
Day13:
Move to Camp III, our high camp. Exact elevation and
location of high camp will be determined according
to conditions and group strength, but will be somewhere
above 19,000 ft.
Day14:
Rest day at high camp to prepare for our summit attempt.
Day 15-17:
These extra days are built into the itinerary to allow
for weather and/or flexibility for group strength,
etc. We feel having a somewhat flexible itinerary
is very important to our success. One of these days
will be the summit day.
Summit day:
from high camp, we eventually join the normal route
and climb through the Canaleta, a scree or snow gully
that tops out at the Cresta del Guanaco, a ridge leading
to the South Summit. We continue on to the higher
north summit (22,841 ft) and the highest point in
the Western and Southern Hemispheres. We descend back
to basecamp for the night.
Day 18:
We descend to another basecamp, Plaza del Mulas (where
we breath in some thicker air for change!
Day 19:
Trek back out to the trailhead at Puenta del Inbca
and overnight at a hotel in Penitentes.
Day 20:
Travel back to Mendoza where we will celebrate our
time on Aconcagua with a good dinner and some rest.
Day 21:
Flights back home, or begin an optional stay in Mendoza.
