Aconcagua is a part of Aconcagua Provincial Park, and there are park ranger stations at the entrance and at all camps. The two most popular routes to the top are Rio Horcones (the normal route -- and the one we took) and Rio Vacas (the advanced route, requiring mountaineering skills; also known as the Polish Glacier Route). Medical assistance is available at both base camps where medical checkups are mandatory before climbing higher.
The climb takes four to six days from the base camps (about 14,000 feet), but from Mendoza (2,310 feet) you really do need one week -- as I learned the hard way -- to acclimatize yourself at lower altitudes first. Allow at least two weeks for the entire expedition.
The biggest challenges of the climb are the cold (it's normally well below zero Fahrenheit near the top) and, of course, the altitude (most people are evacuated due to acute mountain sickness, which can be fatal). Physical training before the trip is also essential.
In case of emergency, rangers will assist with evacuation and organize rescue missions to the higher camps if possible. A helicopter rescue from base camp has to be authorized by doctors, but it is free.
You can find the full article here
No comments:
Post a Comment