Mountain Aconcagua (6 962 m / 22 831 ft)

Ascent to Aconcagua is an unique opportunity for those who do not have high-altitude mountaineering skills to taste and smell the air up to 7 000 meters above sea level. For example, to find yourself on the same altitude somewhere in the Himalayas, Karakoram and Pamir, you will need several years of training and a special high-altitude equipment. Well, in addition to the above, it is an opportunity to climb one of the 7 Summits, which rightfully occupies first place in the ratings of several heights - it is the highest mountain in the whole of the Americas, the highest point in the Western Hemisphere and the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere.

Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside of Asia and the highest peak of both Americas. It is one of the Seven Summits so there are about 3 500 climbers trying the summit each year. It is also well known as the highest mountain on Earth where climbing to the summit is not require any technical mountaineering skills. But despite of common opinion and according to the official statistics only 60% of all climbers reach the summit. The main reasons of this numbers - are the high altitude and severe weather. People often underestimate the task at hand and every year Aconcagua takes several lives. Even on the easiest Normal Route you will need to use crampons and sometimes ice-axes and ropes. So you should not attempt alone and you should always have someone watching you. The most popular routes to Aconcagua summit are the "Normal route" via north-west ridge, the "Polish Traverse" and the "Aconcagua 360".

• Seven Summits
• Country High Points of the Americas
• South America State/Province High Point Lists
• Andes 6000-meter Peaks (19 685 metres)
• World 7200-meter Peaks (23 500 feet)

Aconcagua is located in the Andes mountain range, in the province of Mendoza, Argentina, and lies 112 kilometres (70 mi) northwest of its capital, the city of Mendoza and 15 kilometres from the international border with Chile.

Flight to Mendoza International Airport (Argentina). Take a car or bus to Puente del Inca or Penitentes. The entrance to the Aconcagua Provincial Park is either at Puenta del Inca (normal route and south face) or via the Vacas Valley near Penitentes.

You must go to Mendoza (Argentina) to get your climbing permit and fill all necessary forms in person. Permits are sold at SUBSECRETARÍA DE TURISMO only. Address in Mendoza is på San Martín 1143. It's pretty close to the to Plaza Independencia. The permits can not be bought either at Puente de Inca or Punta de Vacas. Anywhere inside the park, the permit or the receipt may be required to be shown.

Mount Aconcagua (6962 meters) is well known as the highest mountain on Earth where climbing to the summit is not require any technical mountaineering skills. For example, to find yourself on the same altitude somewhere in the Himalayas, Karakoram and Pamir, you will need several years of training and a special high-altitude equipment.

 

The current best flash climb to Aconcagua (4 hours and 25 minutes) via Normal route belongs to skyrunner Christian Stangl and was set on March 4, 2003.

 

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