Aconcagua climb

PAYMENT POLICY
A deposit of $2,500 is due at time of registration to reserve a space on the expedition.
A full payment is due 60 days prior to the expedition start date.

CANCELATION POLICY
Refunds will not be issued for cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the scheduled date.

Argentina, Aconcagua (6962m), Mountaineering

Trip overview

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 (6962m)

Why go there?

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 technical.

Why climb with us?

• 7 summits provides the best service and accommodation during the whole trip
• 7 Summits provides high-quality 4 season tents for accommodation and large specialized tents for dining and rest, plus toilet tent and shower tent in the Base Camp
• 7 Summits has the most extensive experience in organizing commercial climbs and challenging high-altitude expeditions
• The highest success rate for summits
• Reliable and trusted local partners
• We offer 5% discounts for your next adventures with us
• We have the most experienced and qualified guides, including world- renowned mountaineers

Good advice

Booking deposit, 50% of the price, is paid not later than 3 months prior to expedition. Balance payment is due not later than 45 days prior to expedition

Tips guidelines (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.

Necessary travel papers (documents)

Passport to travel abroad
Argentine visa (if necessary, depends on your citizenship)
Special questionnaire
Medical and climbing insurance covering all climbing risks and helicopter evacuation.

Accommodation

2 nights in hotels (SNG, BB)
16 nights camping (DBL, FB)

Meals

Breakfasts in the hotel
Meals and drinks during the whole climb

Staff

Mountain guide from 7 Summits Club
Porters helping to pitch high camps, cooks and kitchen staff, muleteers

Health and medical insurance

Our guide will have a first aid kit and we strongly recommend bringing your own specific medicines you might need. Besides, we recommend you start taking polyvitamins 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.

Weather

Climbing season for expeditions is from December to March. The "peak" months are the coldest, and the weather is more stable. It is highly recommended to have extra personal days in case of storms and in need to wait for a good weather window.

Extra expenses

Climbing permit ( USD 850-1100), see http://formulariosambiente.mendoza.gov.ar/images/aconcagua/tarifas/TarifasPPA2018-19.pdf for the latest fees.
Lunches and dinners in the cities
Extra night in Mendoza (if a reserved day is not used)
Porters to carry personal gear to higher camps
Gratitudes for guide team and porters

Possibility of renting personal equipment

There are several local gear shops with good gear, but in the high season many popular sizes and items can run out, so it is best to bring your own gear

Personal gear

GEAR LIST
General Information

Each item on the list below is required unless specified to be optional
If seasonal fluctuations impact the requirement for an item on your list, it will be specified
All other items are required regardless of the forecast to ensure your well-being, as weather and conditions can change quickly in the mountains



TRAVEL ITEMS

- Day Pack
Lightweight 35 - 45 L
This pack will be used as a carryon bag for the trip to Argentina and then for the day hikes trekking to base camp. It should be light weight and have both a waist belt and chest strap.

- Expedition Duffel Bag
150-liter expedition-ready duffel bag used to transport all gear. All items need to fit securely into the duffel bag.

- Casual Travel Clothes
We recommend wearing clean clothing while traveling and before and after your trip. It's a good idea to pack a comfortable variety of outfits, including some t-shirts, swimsuits (optional).

TECHNICAL CLOTHING

- Baselayer Bottom
2 pairs of thermal bottoms: one light weight and one medium weight. Fabric: wool, wool blend, synthetic or polyester. No cotton.

- Baselayer Tops
2 thermal long sleeved tops: one light weight and one medium weight. Fabric: wool or synthetic. No cotton.

- 1 sun hoodie, preferably light colored.

- Trekking Pants
A pair of lightweight trekking pants. Zippered pockets are good and thigh vents can be useful on hot days. “Convertible” pants are useful to turn into shorts on hot days. We also recommend synthetic fabrics.

- Softshell Pants
Non-insulated, stretchy softshell pants that should fit comfortably with or without your baselayer bottoms.

- Hardshell Pants
These must fit over your thermal under layers and softshell pants. These must be non-insulated, lightweight, waterproof and have full zips on the side to get on and off over your climbing boots and crampons.

- Insulated Synthetic Pants
These will be worn around camp and may be useful to climb in on summit day depending on temperature. Fabric: Synthetic or Down. Medium weight is ideal. These should fit over both your thermal under layers and your climbing pants. These must have full zips on the sides to get them on and off over your climbing boots and crampons without taking your boots off.

- Midlayer Top
A midweight, lightweight fleece layer for use over baselayers. Hoods are optional but recommended. Very light down jackets can also suffice as a midlayer.

- Softshell Jacket
This breathable, wind-and-weather resistant jacket is a key part of a mountaineering layering system. A hooded model is highly recommended. This layer must fit well over your midlayer top and baselayer top.

- Hardshell Jacket
A non-insulated, fully waterproof shell jacket with a hood. This layer must fit comfortably over your baselayer, midlayer, softshell, and potentially a lightweight insulated layer. Helmet-compatible hoods are required.

- Lightweight Insulated Jacket
You may use this as a layering piece or as stand-alone insulation when appropriate. Down or synthetic insulation. Down is more packable and lighter weight, and synthetic insulation will retain warmth when wet.

- Down Parka
Expedition style parka should be heavily insulated with high-quality down fill (800-fill or more) and must have an insulated hood. It should fit comfortably over the rest of your upper body layers. Down sweaters or light puffy jackets will not be sufficient.

HANDWEAR

- Lightweight Liner Gloves
Lightweight wool or synthetic liner gloves.

- Softshell Gloves
Midweight, lightly insulated gloves. Leather-palm construction is recommended.

- Insulated Shell Gloves/ Climbing Gloves
One pair of warm shell gloves with insulated removable liners. We recommend models with a durable leather palm.
These need to have room in the fingers to not be constructive and cut off warmth and circulation to your fingers. More room in the gloves is better than less. You must have enough dexterity to use your technical gear (ascender, carabiners, rappel device) while wearing these gloves. It is important to be very familiar with these gloves and get used to using them with your gear before your climb.

- Expedition Mittens/ 8000 mitts
These must fit over your medium weight liner gloves and your heavy weight climbing gloves without constriction. Larger is always better than smaller. These down mitts serve as a backup in case you drop a glove or your hands are simply too cold in the heavy weight gloves and need a warmer option (gloves plus mitts).

- Hand Warmers and Foot Warmers (Optional)
Bring enough pairs to get you through the expedition but not more as they are heavy to carry up the mountain. If you are bringing the Hotronics electric foot warmers you will likely not need the chemical warmers. Note: chemical hand warmers use oxygen to burn so do not work well at high altitude and the foot warmers in the boots do not really work at all on summit day.

HEADWEAR

- 2 Buff Neck Gaiter
- Balaclava
- Sunhat
- Wool or Synthetic Ski Hat
- Glacier Glasses
These must be the high quality darkest lenses you can buy (Cat 4) and have full coverage around the eyes to block all light.

- Sunglasses (Optional)
These must be high quality dark lenses.

- Ski Goggles
High-quality goggles for sun and wind protection at altitude.
These must be the darkest lenses you can buy (Cat 4). If your goggles accept multiple lenses, bring one super dark lense and one clear or high light transmission yellow for low-light/high wind conditions.

Note: If you need prescription Glacier Glasses contact the manufacturer for options well in advance of your trip.

- Headlamp
2 headlamps.
Your main headlamp needs to be powerful enough to climb during bad weather (500 Lumens). Your secondary headlamp (200-300 Lumens) should be small and lightweight yet strong enough to climb within an emergency should your main headlamp fail. Please bring extra batteries for both headlamps (battery powered headlamps are better than rechargeable headlamps for Aconcagua because you can bring extra batteries). Make sure to have enough batteries for the expedition with spares.

- Dust Musk (Optional)
For those that are sensitive to dust. Can be left at Base Camp.

FOOTWEAR

- Liner Socks
2-3 pairs of liner socks.

- Wool or Synthetic Socks
3 pairs of medium to heavy hiking socks. These must fit over your liner socks if you plan to wear liner socks.

- Gaiters
Full-sized waterproof gaiters that must fit snugly over your boots. If using a boot with a built-in gaiter, separate gaiters are not necessary.

- Light Hiking Boots or Trekking Shoes
For any approaches across dry trails. Light weight, high comfort, plenty of room in the toe box, and good ankle support. Note: Street/city style shoes will not be allowed in place of hiking shoes.

- Double Boots
Double boots designed for mountaineering. Plastic-shelled models are sufficient, but modern non-plastic boots are more comfortable and are highly recommended.

Note: single boots of any kind (boots without a removable liner) will not be sufficient.
If using a boot with a built-in gaiter, separate gaiters are not necessary.

- Sport Sandals/ Water Shoes
For river crossings. Crocs, Teva-style sandals, or similar footwear will work well.

Note: flip flops will not work.

- Down Booties (Optional)
These will be worn at base camp and at upper camps. They need to have a grip on the sole to walk around on snow.

CLIMBING EQUIPMENT

- Alpine Ice Axe
- 12 Point Crampons
General mountaineering crampons. We recommend modern steel 12-point crampons with anti-balling plates. Note: do not bring 10-point, aluminum, or single-piece rigid crampons, and no vertical-style front points, because they are more aggressive than you need and are dangerous for less technical sections.

- Trekking Poles
These must be lightweight and collapsible to fit in your duffel bag. The “flick lock” style is the most reliable.

- Climbing Helmet
A lightweight climbing-specific helmet. This must fit comfortably over your bare head, hat, and/or balaclava, and your headlamp must be able to strap securely to the outside of the helmet.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

-20 F Down Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bag should be rated to -20°F and must be down-filled, not synthetic. Those who sleep cold should strongly consider a -40°F sleeping bag.

- Inflatable Sleeping Pad
- Foam Pad
- Water Bottles
2 one-liter wide-mouth hard-sided water bottles.
Camelback-type hydration systems or soft-sided water bottles are unacceptable. They freeze, pop and break.

- Water Bottle Parkas
2 insulated water bottle parkas that fully cover your water bottle with closing lids.
We recommend the Forty Below Bottle Boot or the Outdoor Research Water Bottle Parka.

- 1 Liter Stainless Steel Thermos

- Personal Utensils
Mug, bowl, spoon, knife.

- 0.5 Nalgene Bottle (Optional)
This baby Nalgene bottle is ideal for hot drinks. Because of the size and the leak-proof lid, it allows you to stick the bottle in your pocket or inside your jacket.

- Pee Bottle
Collapsible or hard-sided 1 liter Nalgene models.

- Pee Funnel For Women
Optional. Practice is needed for the use of this item.

- Sunscreen
Should be with a high zinc content and sweat resistance. This must be 50 spf or higher.

- Lip Balm with SPF 30+

- Water purification: Iodine tablets, filter or UV treatment
Water on the upper mountain is usually just melted, not boiled. It is very important to have a way to purify your drinking water up high.

- Altitude Watch (Optional)
- Small Pocket Size Camera (Optional)
- Solar Panel (Optional); Power Bank
- Medical Kit
Should include: blister kit, low dose aspirin, Band-Aids, wound closure strips, triple antibiotic ointment, basic repair kit, scissors, Diamox (acetazolamide, 125mg) for AMS, nifedipine (for pulmonary edema, time release), dexamethasone (for cerebral edema, 4mg), antacids, NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, anti-diarrheal, duct tape, ear plugs, Antibiotics (upper respiratory such as Azithromycin and a gastro-intestinal such as Ciprofloxacin), melatonin, Asthma medication if you use it (Advair), cold and flu medication. Prescription medications in consultation with your doctor.

- Toiletry Bag
Should Include: toilet paper, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes, shampoo,
trek towel (compact and quick drying), and any personal medications or prescriptions. Choose a quantity appropriate for the length of your trip.

- Snacks
We recommend assortments of hard candies; chocolate; dried fruits; special athletic foods such as energy gels (Gu); electrolytes (Nuun); Clif Shot Bloks; energy bars; protein bars; trail mix nuts.

1. We have the biggest record of orginizing many commertial technical and altitude expeditions.
2. Our guides are highly experience with guide work on many serious climbs all over the world.
3. We offer the best accommodation and food conditions. Your personal needs any special kinds of food will be considered.
4. You can contact your personal advisor in the gear issue for free consultation. Plus free delivery of your personal rented gear to base camp.
5. We offer the scheme of discounts for loyal clients.