Logistics

Getting to Mendoza

Note that trip dates include travel time from your home country. A day-to-day itinerary can be found with your confirmation letter. Please forward a copy of your flight itinerary before purchasing flights so we can review departure and arrival dates.

We do recommend arriving a day early in case of lost luggage.

Flying to Mendoza, Argentina

Most travelers fly during the night to Santiago, Chile and then change planes and take a morning or afternoon flight to Mendoza. You may also travel via Buenos Aires, Argentina. Remember to ensure your luggage has arrived when you reach Santiago or Buenos Aires and is booked though to Mendoza. Most airlines allow two 50 lb bags.

Suggested Flight Departure: LATAM Chile Santiago to Mendoza morning flight
Suggested Flight Return: LATAM Chile Mendoza to Santiago late afternoon or early evening.

Other Flights and Early Arrivals: We are happy to accommodate other flights. For those arriving early or departing after the scheduled itinerary, we can make hotel arrangements. Please contact our office in advance of your departure if you would like us to make additional reservations for you at an additional cost. Please note those flying via Buenos Aires have had more lost luggage than other routes.

Missed Flights: If you miss your flight, please contact Gordon Janow by calling our Seattle office (206) 378-1927 and follow the prompt for 24-hour contact.

Upon Arrival

Climbers arriving on the scheduled day of their itinerary will be picked up at the airport. Please look for an Alpine Ascents sign upon leaving customs. If you are arriving early (one day or more) please take a taxi (around $10.00) directly to the Hyatt or local hotel. Those arriving on the scheduled date do not need to make extra arrangements.

Contact information for your guide and/or a local contact will be emailed with your team roster about a month prior to your trip. Please make sure you have this contact information saved or written down while traveling.

Breakfasts and Dinners Provided

We are aware of the potential monotony of expedition food and Alpine Ascents makes every effort to make meals a positive part of the climb. We take great care in our meal preparation, understanding the importance staying healthy, fueling effectively, and enjoying your food. Whenever possible, we use fresh ingredients from local markets in our pre-planned meals. Alpine Ascents provides water prepared by boiling and/or with purification tablets during meals and longer rest stops. Climbers need to bring water purification drops or tablets to treat their own water during shorter breaks. Steri-Pens can be a nice addition to treatment drops/tablets but should not be your only water treatment tool.

Alpine Ascents will provide all meals including lunches during the trek in to Aconcagua base camp, but on the upper mountain we ask climbers to bring their own supplemental lunch/snack food. If you love coffee, take heart, Starbuck’s VIA’s have become the new standard on mountaineering expeditions and are an excellent addition to your food supply. We ask climbers to bring these items so that you eat snacks you are comfortable with and not local Argentinean equivalents.

Food you need to bring

You will need to bring items like the ones listed below. Each item should have at least 150 to 200 calories and weight approximately 1.5 to 2.5 oz. Mix and match. Pick your personal favorites. For quantities, refer to the route-specific lists at the bottom of this page.

Energy Bars: ProBars, Luna Bars, Cliff Bars, Lara Bars, etc. You should pick your favorites and have some variety in them. Be mindful of their consistency at cold temperatures.

Candy Bars: Snickers, Milky Way, Almond joy, Peanut M&Ms, etc. Pick ones you like and that will not get smashed in your backpack.

Granola Bars and Cookies: Granola bars often do not have as many calories as an energy bar or candy bar. Look at the labels to make sure you are getting the right number of calories.

Energy Gels/Chews: Some climbers like using GU or other energy gels/chews on summit day. If you like these gels/chews (they can be very useful for quick energy) plan on bringing around 6 packets. Honey Stinger Stroopwafels, Shot Bloks, ProBar Bolts, and similar are all good options.

Energy Drinks (strongly recommended): These are small packets of drink mix that you put into your water bottle. They help replenish electrolytes and make it easier for climbers drink more fluids. Especially at altitude when you may not feel like drinking, these are a huge help. Using drink mix is strongly encouraged, though not required. We recommend Nuun, Crystal light, Emergen-C, Gatorade, etc. You may also consider specialized endurance hydration mixes with calories, like Tailwind, Skratch Labs, or Gu Roctane, though these are more expensive options. Choose packets that are very small, lightweight, add flavor, and contain electrolytes and other ingredients like vitamin C.

Hard Candy (Optional): We also recommend bringing some wrapped pieces of your favorite hard sucking candy (e.g. Life Savers, Werther’s), which help keep your throat from drying out in the dry alpine environment. Ricola Lozenges can also be a good supplement.

On the Mountain

Guides will discuss the importance of personal maintenance, hygiene and sleeping in cold environs.  Guides will teach camp craft and camp setup during the expedition.  Climbers will be expected to help participant in camp setup on the mountain.

At Aconcagua Base Camp

Plaza de Mulas offers a wide range of facilities and services for purchase:

• Wi-fi (though often spotty)
• Dining tents with plates and utensils
• Food
• Beverages (wine, beer, soda)
• Showers
• Medical facilities

Physiology Of Mountaineering

Dehydration, hypothermia, frostbite, and altitude illness are all important health conditions to be aware of while climbing. Please read our overview of these physical factors:

Leave No Trace

Alpine Ascents International practices Leave No Trace principles on all expeditions. We believe that given the proper information most people will do all they can to help protect and maintain the environment. Before your climb, please become familiar with Leave No Trace:

7 Principles of Leave No Trace

As guides, we spend time teaching the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principles and practices. There is nothing more rewarding than working hard to get high into the mountains, reaching a pristine campsite, witnessing incredible views, and having the feeling that no one has been there before.

Conversely, there is nothing more disheartening than working hard to climb a mountain, reaching a site and encountering trash, food waste, and toilet paper. Please read the seven LNT principles, and call the office if you have any questions about what you can do to plan ahead.

Early Departure/Evacuation

Aconcagua can be one of the most difficult places to determine extra fees due to the many variables when departing early. In most cases, early departure fees can be paid by credit card, but a 5% fee is often assessed.

Early departure fees can include:

• Helicopter or mule evacuation or departure from base camp
• Transport from trailhead to Mendoza
• Nights in Mendoza from arrival to departure
• Meals in case of early departure

Climbers may be evaluated at base camp by a local doctor (when in attendance). Though not a common occurrence, this doctor has the authority to ask climbers with altitude issues to leave the expedition with evac expenses applicable.

For those needing to depart early from an expedition:

Alpine Ascents will pay for your single night in basecamp as preparations are made for departure.
Our local outfitter will:

• Set up your departure from basecamp to trailhead and onward to Mendoza
• Arrange hotels in transit (Penitentes and Mendoza)
• Arrange transport to Mendoza
• Helicopter transport may be available from base camp to road head. If not, climbers must hike out with a guide (3 days) or ride a mule with hired guide (usually out in 1.5 days)

Climbers will need to pay for the above services at rates noted below. Payment is made at basecamp via credit card (with a 5% fee). Approximate fees – subject to change.

• Travel with a guide to the trailhead is approximately 3 days. Guide will care for climber, set up camp and prepare meals. $450 for 1 person and $300 per person for 2 people or more
• Travel via mule with a guide approximately 1.5 days. Expected cost of $1300 (climber and guide riding out via
  mule)
• Helicopter (**if available) to trailhead. If an evacuation is needed from BC a helicopter usually costs about $2300 US and is usually refundable via your evac/trip cancellation insurance. Most recent heli costs are: $2300 for 1 person; $1150 for 2; $770 for 3
  ** Please note that helicopter are not always available
• Once you arrive at the trailhead, transport is arranged (the wait can be a few hours or more) back to Mendoza.
• Cost of night in Penitentes (this can be reimbursed by Alpine Ascents after expedition)
• Cost of night at Hyatt Mendoza $200 (other hotel options may be available and base camp staff will assist and book as many nights as asked for)
• Private shuttle from Hotel Ayalen to Mendoza is $280 per vehicle for 1-2 climbers and $450 per vehicle for 3-8 climbers
• Please note we attempted to list all fees but smaller transport fees may be additional