The guided climb of Mount Aconcagua by the Polish Glacier Traverse Route
(False Polish Glacier) with Aconcagua Adventures.

Services included

Transfer from the Mendoza's airport to the hotel. Two nights of lodging in Mendoza City (one before the climb and another after), in double room basis. Hotel includes breakfast. Assistance in obtaining the Aconcagua Climbing Permit.

In & Out ground transportation between Mendoza and Puente del Inca with mountain guides (by private vehicles). One night of accommodation in Hostería Puente del Inca in a dormitory style rooms with private bathroom (4 to 6 people per room). Dinner and breakfast are included in Puente del Inca. Help with gear preparation, and packing loads for mule transportation.

Transfers between Puente del Inca and Punta de Vacas (trailhead). Mules will carry climber’s personal equipment (30kg per person) from Puente del Inca to Plaza Argentina Base Camp on the way in (with stops at the intermediate camps of Pampa de Leñas and Casa de Piedra) and from Plaza Argentina Base Camp to trailhead on the way out, (with stop at Pampa de Leñas).

Two nights of camping at Pampa de Leñas (one in the beginning of the expedition an another on the return from Plaza Argentina) and one night at Casa de Piedra, both including sleeping tents. All expeditions meals (at Puente del Inca, Pampa de Lenas, Casa de Piedra, Plaza Argentina Base Camp and altitude camps) that are decrypted in the itinerary. Five days of camping at Plaza Argentina Base Camp including sleeping tents. Permanent radio link between Mendoza and base camps. First quality tents in Pampa de Leñas, Casa de Piedra, Plaza Argentina and altitude camps. Professional Mountain Guides accompanying the group from Mendoza and throughout the entire expedition. Two extra days (contingency days) with all meals either in altitude or in base camp.

Expedition guides

Professional mountain guides of the AAGM and the EPGAMT. They are equipped with ropes and complete medical kit, specific for mountain sickness.

Guides to clientes ratio

Expeditions will be led by one mountain guide for every 3 or 4 clients.

Contingency days

Expeditions include two extra days in case of bad weather. These days will be used only bay the guide decision (is the guide who decides if is necessary to take these days, when and where).
The extra days come with all meals included – B/PL/D - and take place in either the altitude camps (Camp 1 or Camp 2) or even at Base Camp (in this case, only when the group is coming down). These days can be taken only on Aconcagua. If they are not necessary such days are not replaced by nights in any other place (for example at Mendoza, Puente del Inca, etc.), neither to be changed by another services or refunded.

Expeditions supplied equipment

First quality mountain tents (the North Face or similar). Complete cooking supplies for the altitude camps. Radio link between altitude camps and Plaza Argentina.

Pampa de leñas and casa de piedra camps

Mules will stop at both sites to bring the gear necessary to set up the camp (cooking supplies, dishes, food, tents, etc).These camps are rustics camps, there are no dinning tents or electricity.

Plaza argentina base camp

This base camp has a dining tent furnished with tables and chairs, electric power and its own bathroom facilities. BLU radio link with Mendoza, Puente del Inca and VHF radio link with upper camps, Park Rangers and Rescue Patrols.

Services not included

Air tickets to and from Mendoza. Aconcagua Climbing Permit. Extras, food and beverages in Puente del Inca, Confluencia, Plaza de Mulas out of the mentioned in the itinerary. Vegetarian catering (please read "Special services" item). Eating utensils (utensils, bowl, plate, jar) for Pampa de Leñas, Casa de Piedra and the upper camps. Abandon of itinerary expenses. Sleeping bag and personal gear. Travel or another kind of insurance. Porters to carry neither the common equipment nor the climbers personal equipment. Additional hotel nights if for reasons beyond our control (for example the weather, sickness, etc.) the group returns early. Reclaims of Luggage lost by the airline on which you arrive to Mendoza city. In this case, you will be responsible for those extra expenses caused by this problem. No others service that is not mentioned at Included Services item.

Special services

Vegetarian meals.
Single room, for the hotel nights in Mendoza.
Both are available upon request. Please ask for these additional charges and include that information on the application form.

Abandon of itinerary expenses

Extra mules (expedition includes 30kg per person, to be used for all the people as a group, not as individual or out of program). Extra nights at Pampa de Leñas, Casa de Piedra and Plaza Argentina camps. Extra hotel nights in Puente del Inca or Mendoza out of the included in the expedition. (If you return earlier than the group, you can use your hotel night in Mendoza city, but you have to pay the extra cost for the single room, if you have not a partner to share the double room). Ground transportation to Mendoza (expedition includes transportation for the group, but not individual transfers). Expenses incurred in the case of a rescue.

Extended climb

This is highly recommended for people living at or close to sea level.
These climbers have 2 additional days in Plaza Argentina with all meals, an additional acclimatization guided trekking hill in the surrounds of Plaza Argentina, plus the rest of the services included in the Standard Expedition. Group members have a total of seven days at base camp (6 before and 1 after the climb).
The standard itinerary people join this group on the 7th day (of the extended itinerary). From this day all the people moves as one group.

It is required a minimum of 4 climbers to operate the Extended Itinerary.

Necessary equipment

Feet: 2 pairs of synthetic inner socks, 4 pairs of thick socks for cold (sky type), 1 pair of comfortable trekking boots, 1 pair of gaiters.

Legs: 1 pair of thin synthetic pants, 1 pair of thick shelter pants, 1 pair of rainproof pants, 1 pair of long and comfortable pants (trekking type).

Body: 2 synthetic underwear shirts, 1 turtleneck of synthetic material, 1 fleece jacket or alike, 1 shelter jacket (down or synthetic), 1 rainproof jacket.

Head: sun cap or hat, shelter hat (wool or fleece), light balaclava, a good pair of sunglasses with UV filter (and nose and side protection), a pair of ski goggles, a handkerchief for the neck.

Hands: 2 pairs of light inner gloves, 2 pairs of rainproof gloves for shelter (mitten type).

Expedition gear: book, music or anything that helps to be distracted in the tent, sunscreen (not less than factor 20), 1 two liter water bottle, an stainless steel thermos of one litter or half litter, personal crockery (Bowl, cup, fork and spoon), sleeping mattress for high mountain, 6 pairs of hand warmers, personal care elements, front lamp with extra batteries, a synthetic or duvet sleeping bag for – 20º C

Technical equipment: 1 comfortable backpack of 70 liters or more, 1 pair of boots for high mountain (suitable for 7.000 m and – 40º temperature), semi - automatic crampons, 1 pair of telescopic poles, 1 ice axe.

The above gear list must be used as a guide only.

AT ARRIVAL

On the first day, you will be picked up at the airport of Mendoza City. We recommend you arrive in the morning, because on this day your mountain guide will contact you to check your mountain equipment and, if it is necessary, he will recommend you which things you need to buy or rent. On the afternoon, at the time accorded, you will have a short meeting at the hotel, with the guides and the other members of the group.
In the morning of the second day, the group will be picked up at the hotel to go for the climbing permit and after that, towards Puente del Inca.

Private groups

If the specified departure dates are not suitable, or you want a private expedition, we would be happy to devise a program to suit your interests. In the private groups, the sleeping tents are not included.
For more details, consult us to our e-mail: info@aconcaguaadventures.com

Reservations

To confirm reservations, Aconcagua Adventures requires two conditions:
- Complete and send the application form (one for each person who is going to participate in the expedition).
- A 30% deposit of the total price of the expedition (The balance of the price of the expedition is paid upon arrival in Mendoza, only by cash).
Written confirmation of your reservation will be sent upon receipt of the application form and your deposit.

Cancellations

In the event that a climber cancels his/her reservation, this has to be noticed at least 30 days before of the beginning of the expedition. Bay this way, this person has a credit for the total of the deposit which will be available for the next two (2) years.
Any cancellations with less than 30 days notice (before the beginning of the expedition) will incur in a forfeit of the deposit.

The polish glacier traverse route

This route is also known as the False Polish Glacier. Climbers from all levels in excellent physical conditions can climb Mount Aconcagua by the Polish Glacier Traverse, a less crowded, more remote and beautiful route than the Normal Route. The approach to its Base Camp is by the Vacas Valley, an amazing valley where it is possible to see wild guanacos (similar to llamas, but unique to the Andes).

This is a non-technical expedition similar to the Normal Route, but longer. Due to the altitude, it can be very tiring and very challenging. There are some brief treks on the glacier, but neither rock nor ice climbing is involved. After Camp 2 there is a traverse to the Normal Route from which we approach the summit of Aconcagua. Some factors (altitude, freezing temperatures, expedition length, etc) make this climb much more difficult than Mount Kilimanjaro and others in South America. Expedition members will carry packs (30lbs avg.) for multiple days. Those climbers interested in this expedition must be not only physically but also mentally strong.