Hold on if you are looking forward to climbing Aconcagua and have no idea about its two faces! Before you go on a climbing expedition, it is essential to know the faces of this mountain peak and what the differences are between them. This mountain’s two fronts—the south and the north—are connected by a 1 km long ridge.Aconcagua’s two faces may feel overwhelming when you must choose one, but we will make it simpler for you.
The north face of Aconcagua
The usual route to the north face of the Aconcagua is straightforward and recommended for people without experience climbing on rocks or icy terrain. It’s as simple as walking, but you will still need expert advice and support. The first stop is the Confluencia camp. From here, the goal is to reach the bridge over the hormone river. Quebrada del Sargento Mas is an exciting spot as you can see both the faces of the Aconcagua from here. The route to the next stop, Plaza de Mulas base camp, is quite long and has a steep slope. Then the route continues to El Semafora, which is a narrow path. From here, we climb to Cambio De Pendiente, putting up tents and camps, and then to an area of rocky peaks, Nido de Condores. From here onwards, some people might face breathing issues as altitude gradually increases. It becomes a little hard to walk. With a few more stops, the journey concludes by reaching the summit.
The south face of Aconcagua
The south face of Aconcagua is comparatively shorter than the north face. It usually takes 6-7 days to climb it. The trek begins with the normal route leading to Confluencia, at 3320 meters, and then to Plaza Francia, at 4000 meters. From Confluencia to Plaza Francia, you will come across glaciers, valleys, rivers, and beautiful scenery. Reaching the Bivouac 6,500 meters from the plaza Francia, climbers have to access a wall via ice ejection. The last stop is the Polish Glacier, which is a ridge. From Bivouac to this ridge, ropes are used to climb ice and snow slopes. Another optional route is the Argentine route.
Climbing Aconcagua from its south face is considered a challenging route and thus not recommended for beginners. The Yugoslavian route is the toughest of all, but it leads straight to the south face of Aconcagua. It is advisable to climb in the early morning or late at night; this route is full of waterfalls and rocks.
Get moving now!
Now that you know everything about the two faces of Mount Aconcagua,
trekking Aconcagua will feel much more straightforward with this guide. Your itinerary might be different from the one we told you about, and it’s good to have a route that fits you well, so discuss it before time. Whether you choose the north or the south face of the
Aconcagua, the journey will be challenging yet rewarding!