All members must arrive on the first day of the scheduled itinerary and plan on staying until the last day (unless you have made special arrangements).

Please click one of the links below to view that section of our Aconcagua daily itinerary or scroll down.

Please also visit our Aconcagua route description for more about what to expect on the drive from Mendoza, the trek to basecamp, during the climb itself, etcetera.

Note: This is a proposed schedule, which has been developed through previous trips. The actual itinerary of your trip can differ depending on such factors as weather and local conditions. For example, the trip may finish earlier than these dates, or we may need every single day of the schedule. Thank you for being patient and flexible when coming to a foreign country like Argentina.

Normal Traverse Route-

Arriving in Mendoza:

1) Arrive in Mendoza. Our staff will meet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel;

2) Sort Gear and visit the Permit Office in Mendoza (Please plan on having approximately $900 in cash for your permit), private transport to Pentitentes (2720 metres/8,900 feet) sleep in hotel; back to top

Driving and Trekking to Basecamp:

3) Walk to Confluencia (3320 metres/10,900 feet). Easy trail walking; mules carry baggage. Camping;

4) Acclimatization walk to the South Face of Aconcagua. Return to Confluencia (photo right: Trekking to basecamp (Dan Mazur);

5) Walk 14 miles, to basecamp, "Plaza de Mulas" (4,360 metres/14,300 feet). Trail walking; mules carry baggage. Camping;

6) Rest in basecamp; back to top

Climbing to the High Camps:

7) Carry loads for acclimatization safety to Plaza Canada (4,900 metres/16,000 feet). Walking on scree and through melted ice mixed with rocks. 3-5 hour hike. Return to basecamp;

8) Return to Plaza Canada;

9) Carry loads for acclimatization safety to Nido de Condores (5,900 metres/19,400 feet). Walking on scree and through melted ice mixed with rocks. 6-7 hour hike. Return to Canda;

10) Return to Nido de Condores;

11) Rest in Nido de Condores; prepare for summit attempt;

12) Climb to Berlin or Colera; back to top

Summit Days:

13) Climb to Summit (6,962 metres/22,835 feet). Descend back to Nido de Condores;

14) Extra days for further summit attempts, weather, and additional acclimatization;

15) Extra days for further summit attempts, weather, and additional acclimatization;;

16) Extra days for further summit attempts, weather, and additional acclimatization; (photo right: In the top of the Caneleta (Ryan Waters); back to top

Going Home:

17) Descend to basecamp;

18) Descend to Confluencia;

19) Return to Mendoza in transport and have celebration dinner, stay in hotel.

20) Depart Mendoza and head home. back to top

Polish Direct Route-

Arriving in Mendoza:

1) Arrive in Mendoza, Argentina. Stay in hotel. (We will meet your flight);

 

2) Rest, shop and sight-seeing. Stay in hotel; back to top

Driving and Trekking to Basecamp:

3) Bus to Puente del Inca, Argentina (2720 metres/8,900 feet). Complete registration formalities. Stay in hotel;

4) Drive to Punta de Vacas. Walk 8 kilometers/5 miles to Las Lenas (2,700 metres/8,800 feet). Easy trail walking; mules carry baggage. Camping;

5) Walk 18 kilometers/11 miles, to Casa de Piedra (3,200 metres/10,500 feet). Easy trail walking; mules carry baggage. Camping (photo right: On the Polish Glacier, at 6300 meters/20,700 feet. This is Paul Jensen climbing with one ice axe and a rope. It is not very steep, and there are no crevasses, but we take precautions Dan Mazur);

6) Walk 15 kilometers/9 miles, to basecamp, "Plaza Argentina" (4,200 metres/13,800 feet). Steep trail walking; mules carry baggage. Camping;

7) Rest in basecamp; back to top

Climbing to the High Camps:

8) Carry loads for acclimatization safety to Camp 1 (5,000 metres/16,400 feet). Walking on scree and through melted ice mixed with rocks. 4-6 hour hike. Return to basecamp;

9) Walk to Camp 1 and sleep there;

10) Carry loads for acclimatization safety to Camp 2 (5,900 metres/19,400 feet). Walking on scree and through melted ice mixed with rocks. 6-7 hour hike. Return to Camp 1;

11) Walk to Camp 2 and sleep there;

12) Hike for acclimatization safety to Campo Berlin on the Normal Route. 4-6 hour hike. Return to Camp 2;

13) Rest in camp 2, prepare for summit attempt (photo right: The crux on the Polish Glacier at 6500 meters/21,300 feet. Paul is climbing the last little step onto the east ridge. Its firm snow, tilted at 50 degrees. Not difficult, but a good place to set up a belay Dan Mazur); back to top

Polish Direct Summit Days:

14) Climb Polish Glacier to Summit (6,962 metres/22,835 feet). Descend via Normal Route and traverse back to Camp 2;

15) Extra days for further summit attempts, weather, and additional acclimatization;;

16) Extra days for further summit attempts, weather, and additional acclimatization;; back to top

Going Home:

17) Descend to Plaza Argentina;

18) Descend to Las Lenas camp;

19) Return to Mendoza in transport and have celebration dinner, stay in hotel.

20) Depart Mendoza and head home. back to top

Thank you for joining our Aconcagua expedition.