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  HOME - CENTRAL ANDES - ACONCAGUA El PLOMO-NORMAL ROUTE


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Aconcagua, Plaza de Mulas Plaza de Mulas
Cerro el Plomo, Chile
El Plomo
 ACONCAGUA (6.962m.) - EL PLOMO (5.430M.)

FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH
DURATION: 24 DAYS (Two summits expedition)
DIFFICULTY: No technical route, high altitude. Approach through Horcones valley (see map).

  SEASON 2011-2012
   
TRIP Normal Route (24d)
1 November 13 - Dec. 6 (2011)
2 Nov. 27 - December  20 (2011)
3 December  17 - Jan 9 (2011-12)
4 January 8 - 31 (2012)
5 February 5 - 28 (2012)
6 Feb. 26 – March 20 (2012)


ASK FOR PRIVATE DEPARTURE TRIPS, mail andes@andesmountain.cl
Aconcagua and Plomo equipment list
Normal Route gallery

This expedition start at city of Santiago (Chile). El Plomo is located at Central Andes of Chile, just in front of Santiago. This mountain offer us a incomparable beauty and chance to be prepared (acclimatization) to arrive at Aconcagua in best conditions. After El Plomo, we get our transfer to Mendoza, just at the other side of the Andes. In Mendoza, we will get our climbing permits and enjoy this beauty city, friendly people and prepare last details for our Aconcagua stage.





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Itinerary Two summits expedition
Day.1 Arrival to Santiago.
Arrival to Santiago. Private transfer from airport to our Hotel.
Days.2-6 El Plomo expedition.
From Day 2 to 6, we will climb El Plomo (5.430m.), impressive mountain next to Santiago, that will be our acclimatization stage. (see El Plomo expedition + 1 extra day for acclimatization)
Day 7
 Santiago - Mendoza
Transfer Santiago - Mendoza. Get the Aconcagua climb permit. Hotel.
Day 8
 Mendoza - Penitentes.
Get the climbing permits during the morning. Transfer to Penitentes, place near "Puente del Inca" (Inca Bridge). Lodging in Hotel, Penitentes. Dinner.
Day 9
 Entrance Park – Confluencia (Confluence).
After loading the mules, we will begin our approach to base camp in Plaza de Mulas, doing our first stop at camp "Confluence" (3,368m). Dinner into dinner tent.
Day 10
 Confluencia - South Face - Confluencia.
Breakfast. Today our main objective is the acclimatization process. Hike until the imposing Aconcagua south face "Plaza Francia", 7 hour round trip. Back to Confluencia an dinner into dinner tent.
Day 11
 Confluencia - Plaza de Mulas.
This it is a long trek that cross the upper Horcones valley, until "Plaza de Mulas" base camp located to 4,200 meters above the sea level.
Day 12 Acclimatization day.
We'll make smooth trek near to our base camp, visit the Horcones Glacier. Dinner into dinner tent.
Day 13 Carry load to camp Canada.
Breakfast. Today we will ascent until camp "Canada" (4,877 meters), carrying part of our equipment, food and fuel. Back to the base camp. Dinner into dinner tent.
Day 14
 Plaza de Mulas - Camp Canada.
Early we will initiate the ascent until the Camp "Canada" that is reached approximately between 4 to 5 hours.
Day 15 Camp Canada - Nido de Cóndores camp.
Early we will hike by a smooth slope, towards to "Nido de Cóndores" camp at 5,365m.
Day 16 Carry load to camp Berlin.
Carry part of our equipment and food to "Berlin" camp. Back to "Nido de Cóndores" camp. High altitude dinner.
Day 17 Nido de Cóndores - Camp Berlin (5,950m.)
Early we will initiate our hike towards our last camp. There we'll rest and prepare our equipment, water and food for the summit day.
Day 18 Berlin - summit - Berlin.
Leave in the morning Berlin camp, we will initiate our ascent via normal route. The “Paso del Viento”  is our first psychological difficulty due the long traverse. Soon, the path continues toward the Canaleta, the most hard section to climb due the difficult loose rock section and for the high altitude. Once surpassed already we can count with the summit photo and a spectacular view of the South face of the Aconcagua.
Day 19 Berlin - Plaza de Mulas.
Day 20
 Plaza de Mulas - Puente del Inca.
Long trek to Puente del Inca. Hotel in Puente del Inca or continue to Santiago.
Day 21
 Puente del Inca - Santiago
Land transfer to Santiago.
Days 22-23
 Extra days.
It is necessary to indicate that the expedition can take one, two or even three extra days to be better climatic conditions or if some climber needs to reach a better acclimatization.
Day 24
 Santiago - Flight back.
Transfer to airport.

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Service includes:

· Bilingual mountain Guide (Max. ratio guide - client, 1:3)
· All private land transportation, Santiago - Valle Nevado (El Plomo), Santiago- Mendoza - Penitentes - Santiago
· Three nights hotel in Santaigo, double occupancy (breakfast included)
· One night hotel in Mendoza, double occupancy (breakfast included)
· Two nights hotel in Penitentes, double occupancy (breakfast included)
· One dinner in Penitentes
· Mules for common equipment (tents, stoves, pots, food, fuel, ..)
· Mules for personal gear (20 kg. max.)
· High quality Mountain tents for sleep
· Dinner tent at base camp
· Complete high altitude cooking gear with tables and chairs
· All meals during the expedition
· Radio communication
· Medical kits during the expedition
· Satellite phone during the expedition (US$ 8 per minute)
· Pulse and Oxygen daily monitored to check acclimatization.

Service does not include:

· Flight to and from origin country
· All personal climbing equipment
· Accident and rescue insurance
· Cash for extra expenses
· Extra meals in Santiago, Penitentes and Mendoza
· Extra days in hotels in case of premature arrival or if you does not use extra days mentioned in the program.
· Aconcagua permit fee


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Routes:  Normal...Plomo & Aconcagua.....False Polish-Traverse
Equipment List....Normal Route Pictures