Climbing Aconcagua, 22,841' - Argentina, South America

Cerro Aconcagua (22,841 ft/ 6,962 m)

Dec. 27 - Jan. 12, 2009 Climbing Aconcagua Expedition:

On January 9, 2009 I summited Aconcagua just after 3:00 pm with 5 other climbing partners in one of the worst years for tragedy in a decade. Located in the Andes mountain range on the border of Argentina and Chile, Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside Asia and the second highest of the Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, second only to Mount Everest). During the climb in the 2008/2009 climbing season, six climbers perished on Aconcagua, double the usual annual fatality rate.

2008/2009 Price: USD dollars

Guide: $4,000

Park Permit: 1500 pesos ($450 USD)

Round-Trip Flight from Atlanta to Mendoza: $1,500

Interactive Satellite / Terrain Map of Aconcagua

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Facts about Aconcagua

- aka "Stone Sentinel"

- Height: 22,841ft / 6,962 m

- Location: Province of Mendoza, western Argentina

- 1st Ascent: 1897
Matthias Zurbriggen

- Atmospheric Pressure is 40% of sea-level at Summit

- 4,500 people registered in 07/08 season, approximately 30% Summit

- Highest peak outside the Himalayas

- 2-3 people typically are killed every year

- One of the "7 Summits"

Click Here for Videos of climbing Aconcagua

Aconcagua Provincial Park Regulations (Decret. N# 1332/05)

It shall be punished with a fine up to $500 those who:
Do not use the toilets provided by the park or appointed by the Park Rangers.
Gather or burned native wood or start a fire outside places appointed by the Park Rangers.
Burn garbage.
Pollute rivers, streams or waterfalls.
Enter either with exotic or domestic animals or plants

It shall be punished with a fine up to $1000 those who:
Throw garbage along the park, forget or lose the numbered plastic bags provided by the park.
Cross country driving.
Camp elsewhere but the appointed places.
Carve inscriptions in the stones.
Damage wildlife, plants and natural, cultural or archeological features.

It shall be punished with the equivalent of a 2nd permit those who:
Go beyond the limits on length or stay allowed in the permit (Short Trekking: 3 days, Long Trekking: 7 days, Ascent: 20 days)

It shall be punished with the equivalent of 2 Ascent permits those who:
Go higher than 4300m with either Short or Long Trekking Permit

Note
Park Ranger Stations in Horcones and Pampa de Lena are opened between 8 am and 6 pm. It's suggested to those camping in Confluencia or Case de Piedra to enter the park before 4 pm.

Visitors must check in when they enter the park and check out when they leave it. (Horcones and Pampa de Lenas Park Ranger Stations)

Ticket fee shall not be refunded under any circumstance and the permit is not transferable.

* Rules/Regulations found on the back of the Aconcagua Permit


Certificate / Permit	Expedition Form

Photos of Climbing Aconcagua

Atlanta, GA (250m) to Mendoza, Argentina (746m)	Mendoza (746m) to Penitentes (2,580m)	Penitentes (2,580m) to Pampa de Lenas (2,800m)	Pampa de Lenas (2,800m) to Casa de Piedra (3,200m)


Casa de Piedra (3,200m) to Base Camp (Plaza Argentina 4,200m)	Base Camp (Plaza Argentina 4,200m) to Camp 1 (16,300’)	Camp 1 (16,300’) to Camp 2 (17,500’)	Camp 2 (17,500’) to Camp 3 (19,200’)


Summit Day (22,841')	Camp 3 to Plaza de Mulas (Base Camp)	Base Camp (Plaza de Mulas) to Mendoza	The Crew

Consequences of Climbing can easily be ignored and forgotten.

Video showing 2 minutes of hours of a rescue attempt on Aconcagua in a storm while we were just a few thousand feet below. Mountain guide Federico Campanini, 31, and one of his clients (Elena Senin, 38) perished on Aconcagua around January 8 after summiting Aconcagua. Climbers now debate the rescue of Federico Campanini.