Five weeks and counting until our biggest challenge yet – Aconcagua!  This will be by far the hardest climb we have done so far.  This will be the first mountain on which there are a number of camps and on which we will need to take considerable time in acclimatising.  It will test both our physical and mental strength in a way that they have never been tested before.

 We fly out on December 13th (good job we’re not superstitious) and return on 7th January – 23 hour flight out and 34 hours back!  So no Christmas dinner for us this year! 

 Here’s a little info on Aconcagua:

 At 6,962 meters (22,841 feet), Aconcagua is the highest mountain in both the Southern and Western Hemispheres.   As the highest mountain in South America it is also one of the seven summits (the highest mountains in each of the seven continents). It belongs to the Andes mountain range and is located within the Aconcagua Provincial Park, approximately 70 miles from the Argentinean city of Mendoza.

 We will be making our summit attempt from the eastern side of the mountain following the Ameghino Valley / Upper Guanacos route. We will then traverse the mountain and descend via the Normal route.

 The expedition will start from Mendoza.  After obtaining the permits from the Aconcagua Park Service, we will drive west along the Rio Mendoza to the Penitentes ski area.  From here we begin a 3 day, 40 mile hike up the Vacas and Ameghino valleys to our Base Camp at approximately 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). This eastern approach to Aconcagua is much less heavily traveled than that of the Normal Route so it will be nice and quiet.

 On the mountain we will make use of four higher camps:

Camp I – approximately 4,970 meters (16,300 feet)

Camp II – approximately 5,335 meters (17,500 feet)

Camp III – approximately 5,425 meters (17,800 feet)

High Camp – approximately 5,850 meters (19,200 feet)

 All going well and weather dependant we hope to summit on New Years Eve! 

 Aconcagua – bring it on!!!