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Aconcagua 360° Expedition 6959m
Climbing Skill
Fitness & Stamina
PHOTO: View across the Andes from Camp 2 on the Falso de Los Polacos route.
FEEDBACK: "Well organised with a great local team. The food at base camp was amazing,
so a big thanks to Martha and her team at Plaza Argentina" Simon A, Stevenage, 2008
Aconcagua 360° Expedition Overview
 Aconcagua is the “Seventh Summit” of South America. At nearly 7000m high, it is the second tallest of the 7 Summits, the only taller one being Mount Everest. The name of Aconcagua comes from the native Inca's who used to call the mountain Ancocahuac, the 'White Sentinal'. We follow the 360° route, as it is technically more interesting and quieter that the Normal Route. The approach to Base Camp is down the separate Vacas valley system. The middle of the mountain is covered by the Relinchos glacier, famed for its Neive Penitentes (ice spikes on the glacier). From the high camp on the Vacas / Polish route, the 360° route takes the Falso de los Polacos across to join the Normal Route just beneath the Canaletta, the rock scramble to the summit, then descends the Normal Route to its base camp, so making a 360° circuit and ascent of the peak.

Animated diagram showing the route
of the ascent from the Vacas side
Objectives of the Aconcagua Expedition
The obvious primary aim of the expedition is to summit Aconcagua 6959m, but this expedition is much more than that. You will learn how to adapt your climbing rate to your acclimatisation level, which is an essential skill at altitude. The technical skills required, such as glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and crampon and ice axe work, are largely required on the upper section of the mountain, at which time you are tired and suffering from the altitude. A main expedition objective is therefore to train you to a high level in all these essential skills, that you will require when your reserves are low at the top of the mountain, and because of this the skills need to be developed until they become instinctive to you. The altitude requires that a series of camps are required to reach the high camp. One of the main causes of failure on Aconcagua are that the summit climb is so long from the high camp. We are planning to establish a higher camp at about 6400m, in order to allow you a better chance of acclimatisation, and a shorter summit day. Obviously this will necessitate the carrying of more equipment up the mountain, but this high camp will give the summit attempt groups a staging post on either their ascent or descent. This is both a safety feature, and also an attempt to enable everyone to acclimatise further at a greater altitude.

Just above base camp
Base Camp Services
A key factor in the success of any expedition is its how well rested and fed the team is, and as the quote goes "an army runs on its stomach"! Never one to forget hard lessons learnt by others, we have really taken this point on board and have ensured that the base camp is as comfortable as possible, and that it provides great food in large quantities. We are using a local team to operate a full time base camp with the following services for us at Plaza Argentina:
 Kitchen & Mess Tents with electric lights, tables, chairs
 Food: 3 meals a day (inc packed lunch) & hot drinks
Portaloo / Toilet Tent, Showers, & Equipment Store Room
 Staff: trained cook, camp manager, and porters
 Safety: radios (HF & VHF 2m), Gammow bag, oxygen

Base Camp Aconcagua
Photo Gallery
Drop off at the trailhead
Final day of approach
In the Relinchos Gorge
On last day of approach
Loading bags on mules
View of the Base Camp
Rest day after approach
View of Base Camp
Penitentes near camp 1
Route up to camp 2
View from 6000m to BC
Camp 2 tent door views
View from Casa Piedra
River crossing near BC
Getting to Plaza Argentina
Our expedition tents
Outline Expedition Itinerary for the Aconcagua 360° Expedition
Day 1
Fly from London to Mendoza (Argentina), usually via Buenos Aires. The flight takes over 24 hours.
Day 2
Arrive in Mendoza in Argentina, meet local guiding team, night in hotel on a B&B basis.
Day 3
Equipment check, pack loads for mules, get peak permits, drive to Vacas, trek to Pampa de Leñas.
Day 4
Trek for about five to six hours, and the objective for the day is the Casa de Piedra shelter 3200m.
Day 5
This is the final day of the approach, and is a tough day gaining 1000m in height, to base camp.
Day 6
As you are over 4000m, it is usual to have a rest day at Base Camp, and to sort your equipment.
Day 7
Ascend to Camp 1, 5000m, over the next couple of days, ascending the Relinchos glacier.
Day 8
Cross the penitentes to Camp 1 at 5000m. The views back down to the Base Camp are great.
Day 9
Ascend to Ameghino Col for an intermediary camp on the way up to setting up Camp 2.
Day 10
Establish the high Camp 2 at 5900m, by traversing across to the right under a line of cliffs.
Days
11 - 17
 Summit attempt days, after a rest day at Camp 2. Ascend to summit by the Falso de Los Polacos route, and return to the high camp on the Normal Route of the mountain.
Day 18
 Descend with all the equipment in one heavy load, back to the Normal Route Base Camp.
Day 19
Trek back to Punta de Vacas. The mules will carry all the large bags, so you travel quite light.
Day 20
Trek to Punta de Vacas, and leave the Park of Aconcagua. Transfer to Mendoza and stay in hotel.
Day 21
Transfer to the airport in Mendoza for your return flight to the UK.
Day 22
The end of the return flight back to the UK from Mendoza, and the expedition is finally over.
ITINERARY NOTES - Where possible we follow the itineraries, but as mountaineering is always weather and conditions dependant, we are sometimes forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, a suitable different route will be attempted, and you will be informed at the first suitable opportunity. Please use this outline course itinerary as a guide to the style of expedition, with good conditions, as it will not necessarily be an exact blueprint for the exact routes and schedule that you will follow on the expedition.
Photo Gallery
On traverse up to Camp 3 (6100m)
Crossing the Relinchos moraines
Descending, with summit behind
Previous Skills & Fitness
Previous Skills - any potential team member must meet both the requirements below: 1) A very good level of competence (stability) on mountaineering crampons in both ascent & descent, 2) An ascent of a 4000m peak, such as Mont Blanc 4810m in Chamonix (or another major peak). Level of Fitness - Very good aerobic fitness level. Upon booking you will be sent an expedition dossier with training training schedules. It can be viewed (and even printed) by clicking here, and looking at Training Planner 4.
Key Expedition Facts
Course Duration - 3 weeks (22 days)
Guides & Icicle Staff - On the mountain local mountain guides (not necessarily IFMGA) lead the group, in accordance with the local laws regarding guiding. An Icicle Rep will also be on the expedition for all groups of six or more, in order to assist with day to day logistics (not guiding).
Accommodation - Shared rooms (up to 4 sharing) in hotels, refuges, tents and bivouacs
Dates - 19 December 2010 - 8 January 2011, 6 - 26 February 2011.
Expedition Price - £1999 per person
Price Inclusions - Mendoza hotel accommodation on a room only basis, all road transport by private vehicles, all camping facilities and meals on the mountain (including base camp services as detailed above itinerary), all costs for leaders / Guides / local helpers.
Price Exclusions - Flights to Mendoza (Argentina), visa fees, Aconcagua park permit (circa £150 sterling), bar bills, laundry, travel insurance, UK and foreign airport taxes, any costs outside Argentina, optional trips, and tips.
Equipment - We provide all the communal equipment such as tents, ropes and cooking equipment. You provide all your own clothing and personal kit such as boots, crampons, & adequate sleeping bag. We provide a detailed expedition kit list upon booking.