Mendoza (700m)– Penitentes (2700m)– Aconcagua Provincial Park - Confluencia(3300m) – Base Camp Plaza de Mulas (4250m)– Plaza Canada (4900m) – Nido de Condores (5500m) – Berlin (5900m) – Summit of Mt. Aconcagua (6961m)

Aconcagua (6962m) is the highest mountain in South America, one of the 7 Summits. It is located in Argentina in the Province of Mendoza. The name may have come from several possible origins: Kon-Kawa (“Snowy Peak”) from the Argentine aboriginals, the Aymara; Aconca-Hue (“Coming from Other Side”) – from the Chilean Araucano; Akon-Kahuak (“Sentinel of Stone”) – from the Quechua. From the top of this mountain you can revel in the breath-taking views of the amazing white ranges of Cordillera de Los Andes. As a climbing objective Aconcagua offers a rich variety of interesting routes of all the technical levels. The Normal (or NW) Route is physically very demanding, but not really technical.

Our expedition starts in the town of Mendoza. On arrival we go right away to Penitentes (a small village next to Puente del Inca) and on the next day the climb starts (by NR). We stay two nights in Confluenca Base Camp (3300m) and, for better acclimatization, two nights in Plaza de Mulas

Base Camp (4350m). After that with the help of experienced guides and porters we begin to establish high camps: Canada (4900m), Nido de Condores (5500m) and Berlin (5900m). On the 12th day we make a bid for the summit. And of course we have a reserve day to make up for bad weather. The expedition ends in Mendoza, where we stay for one night before saying a hearty thankful good-bye to these places.

Day 1 Arrival in the town of Mendoza. Bus transfer to a hotel. Acquaintance walks in the city, arranging all the necessary permits, checking gear. Hotel.

Day 2 Buying (and/or renting) necessary gear. A bus transfer to Penitentes (2700m). Sending the main bulk of the gear by mules to Base Camp. Hotel.

Day 3 Transfer to the entrance of Aconcagua Provincial Park (Laguna Horcones) and a hike to Confluencia (3300m, 4-5 hours). Camp.

Day 4 Acclimatization hike from Confluencia to Plaza de Francia (4200m) from which the fantastic views of the South Face (2700m high) open up. 4-5hr. Return to camp.

Day 5 Long walk (8-9hr) to the main Base Camp at Plaza de Mulas (4350m). The way is along the wide valley of Playa Ancha. Camp.

Day 6 Rest day in Plaza de Mulas (4350m). Sightseeing around the camp, easy ascent to the Orkones Glacier. Camp.

Day 7 Walk from Plaza de Mulas to Camp 1 (Plaza Canada, 4850m). Pitching tents.Camp.

Day 8 Walk from Plaza Canada to Camp 2 (Nido de Condores, 5500m), night there. Camp.

Days 9 Descent to Plaza de Mulas (4350m). Camp.

Day 10 Rest day in Plaza de Mulas (4350m). Camp.

Day 11 Climb from Plaza de Mulas (4350m) to Nido de Condores (5500m),night there.Camp

Days 12 Climb from Nido de Condores (5500m) to Camp 3 (Cholera, 6000m). Camp.

Day 13 Ascent of Mt. Aconcagua (6961m), descent to Cholera (6000m). Camp

Day 14 Reserve day in case of bad weather. Camp

Day 15 Reserve day in case of bad weather. Camp.

Day 16 Descent to Plaza de Mulas. Camp.

Day 17 Hike back from Base Camp to Laguna de Horcones. Bus transfer to Penitentes. Night in Penitentes.

Day 18 Bus transfer from Penitentes to Mendoza. Rest and farewell dinner. Visits to the local distilleries. Night in hotel.

Day 19 Bus transfer to the airport. Flight from Mendoza.

• Transportation in a private bus/minivan from Mendoza to Penitentes and back.
• Help in obtaining the necessary climbing permits
• 1 night in a hotel in Penitentes (double rooms, breakfast&dinner)
• Transportation from Penitentes to the Laguna de Horcones trail
• Mules for food and equipment from Puente del Inca (Los Puquios) to Plaza de Mulas and back. Load limit - 30 Kg
• Two nights in Confluencia: electricity, cook, meals&drinks, mess tent with tables, chairs and tableware, toilet tent
• Service in Base Camp in Plaza de Mulas (number of nights limited to 5): electricity, cook, meals&drinks, mess tent with tables, chairs and tableware, toilet tent, storage of personal things, radio communication
• Four-season tents, stoves, cookware and tableware
• Food for high camps
• Mountain guide from 7 Summits Club (Aconcagua summiteer)
• Radio communication between BC, Mendoza and Puente del Inca: for co-ordinating the expedition logistics

• Airfare and airport taxes to and from Mendoza, Regular service bus tickets to and from Mendoza Hotel and meal in Mendoza,(3 nights) (apr.200-220USD)
• Climbing permit
• Personal porters
• Individual gear
• Extra costs entailed by leaving the expedition prematurely
• Medical insurance covering climbing to 7000m and costs of eventual rescue operations
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, mail, telephone calls etc.)

• Permit (between USD 450 & 800, depending on your nationality and the start date of the climb)

(important information!)

You entrust your life, health, your time and money to the guides. And the guides take this responsibility for you and for the success of the whole trip. They are doing this 24 hours. 10-20 USD per day is expected as the normal amount of tips for the Guides and the staff of the program. If you liked everything about the trip, please don't forget to thank them. You can give the tips directly to the Main Guide and he will distribute it among the staff (apr.85-170USD)

• Passport to travel abroad
• Argentine visa (if necessary, depends on your citizenship)
• Special questionnaire

• 3 nights in hotels (DBL, BB)
• 13 nights camping

Mountain guide from 7 Summits Club, Local mountain guides, porters helping to pitch high camps, assistants

Our guide will have a first aid kit and we strongly recommend to bring your own specific medicines you might need. Besides, we recommend to start taking poly vitamins 3 weeks before the expedition. Also would be very useful to try to acclimatize on some peak over 5000m and test your system before you come to Aconcagua.

The normal time for expeditions is from December to March. A colder month could be better in terms of weather, normally more stable when cold. Generally from December to March. Experience indicates that, if the "peak" months are the coldest, its climate is more stable. It would be good to calculate correctly the time you have available, including some days of "reserve" to wait for good weather in case of storms. A "bonnet of smoke", white wind over Aconcagua`s top, is a sign of tempest in the heights and you must not go further on.

• Personal gear: Heavy-weight fleece / pile jacket Light/medium-weight,
• long thermal underwear shirt (polypropylene/capelins)
• Long underwear shirt,
• medium weight fleece shirt,
• Water proof / breathable jacket with hood (Gore Tex is strongly recommended) Long sleeve,
• light weight shirt Down or hollow fibre filled jacket with a hood,
• large enough to put on over a fleece jacket Fleece pants (with full side zips to allow ventilation)
• Two pairs of long underwear pants (one light-weight and one medium-weight)
• Waterproof / breathable pants (or bib pants) with full side zips for easy putting on and taking off
• Light weight trekking boots
• Climbing expedition boots
• Crampons (well fitting, preferably “step-in”) with a maintenance & repairing kit
• 2-3 pairs of liner socks
• 3 pairs of wool or poly socks (medium-heavy thickness)
• Gaiters
• 2 pairs of liner gloves
• Medium weight fleece gloves
• Nylon shell gloves
• Wool or fleece mittens
• Shell over mittens
• Thick hat (wool or fleece)
• Balaclava
• Glacier glasses
• Extra pair of your ordinary glasses (if you wear them)
• Down or hollow fibre filled sleeping bag good for 10-20 degrees
• Fahrenheit Sleeping pad, either a Thermo-Rest, or a closed-cell foam pad
• Head torch
• Two water bottles 1 litre each (with insulators)
• One 45-55 litres rucksack
• Ice axe 60-70 cm
• Telescopic ski poles
• Glacier cream (spf 40)
• Your specific first aid kit
• Pee bottle AAA
• Lip balm (spf 25+)
• Pocket knife
• Favourite lightweight snacks
• Camera and accessories Book, playing cards, Walkman, reading stuff etc.

+357 99 89 12 69 EVGEN STAROSELSKIY

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