Tupungato Volcano Guiding Ascent 21555 ft.

Day 01 Welcoming at Mendoza Airport. Transfer to Mendoza. Gear check. Meeting, welcoming dinner.

Day 02 Transfer from Mendoza City to Puesto Santa Clara, a nice hut in Tupungato (trailhead). We take an inner road that crosses vineyards and farms. Meeting with arrieros (gauchos). Barbecue. Night in tents.

Day 03 Hike to the Refugio de Durmientes (an old, wooden hut in a perfect setting, 3900m). 7-hour trek, mostly uphill, using a trail along the stream. It is a good place to see guanacos (the relative of the lama). Dinner and night in tents.

Day 04 Trek from Refugio de Durmientes to Portezuelo del Azufre (Azufre pass, 4600m). First contact with altitude, ideal for acclimatization. Nice view, too. The descent to the Tupungato Valley (3300 mts.) is made by a rocky stream. 8-hour trek to this broad valley, guarded by 5.000 and 6.000 m ranges. The river and the wildlife are the only presences. The figure of the volcano dominates the landscape.

Day 05 After an early morning Tupungato River crossing, we hike up to Base Camp (3800 m). 4-hour trek.

Day 06 Rest and acclimatization day at BC! Plenty of food.i

Day 07 Food and fuel carry to Camp 1, in the ridge that marks the International border, at 4500 m. Return to BC. 8-hour trek. We get to see the Argentinean-Chilean border landmark.

Day 08 Move from CB to Camp 1 (4500 m). An awesome spot in the heart of the mountains. Well protected from the wind, astonishing views, a perfect place to get strong before the summit push.

Day 09 Food and gear carry from C 1 to C 2, the High Camp in the ridge (5400 m) Return to C 1, 8 h trek.

Day 10 Rest day at C 1.

Day 11 Move from C1to C2, 6-hour trek. The High Camp is located in the North ridge of the volcano, just below the snow couloir that leads to the North summit.

Day 12 Summit day. 10-12 hours total. Early departure towards the couloir, with crampons and piolet. After climbing the easy, 35º snow slope, we cross the long plateau, with two or three false summits, to the North Summit (6550m). The South summit, 20 meters higher, is yet 2 h further. Most expeditions from the Northside go to the North summit, that has a landmark and a summit book.

Day 13 Extra day in case of bad weather.

Day 14 C2-CB.

Day 15 CB- Portezuelo del Azufre- Refugio de Durmientes. Intense day, with an ascent to the 4600m pass and a long trek down.

Day 16 Refugio de Durmientes trek to Santa Clara. Here we meet our truck –usually loaded with some sodas and beers- that drives us to Mendoza. Hotel check-in. Celebration dinner! (not included) End of the program.

⇒ANDES VERTICAL EXPEDITION CLIMBING GEAR DOWNLOAD HERE

Having the right equipment on your expedition will make almost as much difference to your safety, comfort, and enjoyment as any physical training you do. It is essential that you take the time to acquire the correct gear; don’t wait until the last minute to find out your local shop doesn’t have your size. This equipment is expensive, but you can often find great sales online and at your local gear store.

The purpose of this gear list is to help guide your purchases. Often salespeople in your local shop do not have first-hand knowledge of high-altitude climbing, so be sure to balance their advice with what you read here. And do not hesitate to call us for more information on any of these items. We have strived to create a list heavy on detail, but there are always further questions!

During your expedition to Aconcagua, you will encounter a very wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. At one end of this range is the pleasantly warm and beautiful City of Mendoza, while at the other end of the spectrum is found the cold and often windy weather on the summit of Aconcagua. The equipment you bring must function well in a wide variety of conditions. Your clothing should be warm, lightweight, dry quickly, and allow good freedom of movement. Adhere to the layering principle: several
thin layers of insulation (rather than one thick one).

While you are required to bring everything on this list, there are numerous options, brands, and versions of each piece of equipment, unless otherwise noted. Using our current suggested brand list we encourage you to shop around, do research, even borrow, and use your experience with our list to find the best gear for you.

Finally, a note on our recommendations: these are products which our guides have used extensively and been happy with. Purchasing the specific items listed below will ensure you have the right tool for the job, but there are other options on the market.

⇒ANDES VERTICAL EXPEDITION CLIMBING GEAR DOWNLOAD HERE

INCLUDED SERVICES 

• 2 nights accommodation Hotel in Mendoza
• All the meals during the expedition [except in Mendoza]
• Bilingual Mountain Guide +20 years experience / WFR (wilderness first responder)
• Equipment transportation by mules to the base camp
• One assistant
• All shared equipment for the expedition [tents, stoves, etc]
• Complete base camp services
• All the transfers from your hotel in the town of Mendoza
• Permanent radio communication and Satellite Phone.
• First aids kits and pulse oximeter for daily updates of acclimatization progress

WHAT´S NOT INCLUDED

• Any cost if the climber abandons the trip
• Meals and drinks in Mendoza
• Personal gear, medications, ground or air evacuations
• Room services, laundry
• Phone communications (only for emergency) and items of a personal nature
• Insurance liability (we recommend global rescue insurance)
• Hospitalization or medication of any kind
• Any other service not mentioned in this condition sheet