Schedule Day 1 & Guide comments
Schedule Day 1
DAY 1 for extended itineraries of 17+2 & 18+2 days
- 1 PM group transfer airport/hotel
- 3 PM onwards, Hotel check-in
- 4:30 PM Rental delivery in the hotel lobby
- 5 PM Welcome meeting in the hotel lobby
- 6-8 PM Optional personal gear check on demand
Note: no paperwork or payments are available on Day 1. Exceptions have to be confirmed in advance only.
DAY 2
- Breakfast
- Transfer Mendoza / Penitentes (time to confirm according to the previous activity)
- Prepare the loads for the mules
LAST DAY
Nobody knows when the expedition will end; it's subject to weather conditions and the Guide's criteria. The itineraries are a guideline only; 70%+ % of our expeditions follow the itineraries, while 30% do not. The expeditions may end sooner or later than the days detailed in the itinerary. The services will always end one day after the group leaves the Park—no compensation nor refunds for early descent.
The Guide is the expedition leader.
The Guide leads the expedition and makes the decisions, even on private expeditions.
A successful expedition means a safe expedition. If a climber refuses or skips a medical check or has a signal of a health risk such as high blood pressure, continuing the expedition will not be possible for him. Park Rangers and Doctors are the highest authorities; if unavailable, the Guide becomes the highest legal authority.
Most of our programs don't require experience in technical climbing or rock or ice climbing; they will only require crampons, which are usually necessary on the summit day only. However, this does not mean that reaching the summit of Mt. Aconcagua doesn't represent a significant effort.
Suppose a climber cannot perform the maximum trekking hours below in a stretch. In that case, he will not be able to reach the climbing pace necessary to continue with the group expedition since the higher up, the more demanding.
Maximum trekking hours to be part of the group
8 hrs Confluencia 3300m / Plaza de Mulas 4260m
2½ hrs Plaza de Mulas / Piedras Conway 4750m
2½ hrs Piedras Conway / Plaza Canada 4910m
2½ hrs Plaza Canada / Cambio de pendiente 5150m
3 hrs Cambio de Pendiente / Nido de Condores 5250m
3½ hrs Nido de Condores / Colera 6000m
2½ hrs Colera / Piedras Blancas 6180m
2 hrs Piedras Blancas / Independencia 6380m
2½ hrs Independencia / Travesia / La Cueva 6650m
1½ hrs La Cueva / Filo del guanaco 6830m
1 hrs Filo del guanaco / Summit 6962m
Safety is always our 1st priority; we haven't had a major accident in 25+ years, 1000+ expeditions, and thousands of climbers. Statistically, more than 90% of accidents in Aconcagua occur when descending because a lot of energy is required. Some climbers think they may consume all their energy to reach the summit without saving energy for the descent. Other considerations include arriving late to the summit, having no backup sun hours, etc., which implies significant risks.
Suppose a climber exceeds the maximum stretch times. In that case, he must leave the expedition and wait at Base Camp for the rest of the group to return from the summit to leave Aconcagua Park together and return to Mendoza as a group.
The oxygen is ready to use in the last camp Colera, at 6000m; if a climber needs it, it indicates that his condition isn't adequate to continue safely with the ascent. Oxygen may only be provided to begin the descent; in no case will oxygen be given and continue ascending, as this would imply a future risk when descending.
Among others, all these will be considered an abandonment by the climber, with no compensation or claim. The Guide is the expedition's leader, the highest authority, has the license, is approved to lead by the Aconcagua Park, and his decisions are final. EVERY CLIMBER RESIGNS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM ANY GUIDE'S DECISION, WHICH A CLIMBER CONSIDERS WASN'T ADEQUATE. There is only one summit attempt. If a guide considers a climber can not continue the ascent for any reason, the climber must descend without claim or compensation. The climbers already accepted these conditions in their booking form before sending the 1st payment.
See also
What days/distances do we hike?