Re: Lost luggage + Snow Storm = Better Luck Next Time!
Wow, this was my summit day 2016-1-13. There was a large group. I think half the hikers turned around at Portozuelo Del Viento. The section to La Cueva was the most wind I've ever experienced. After that the Canaleta wasn't so bad, really high though.
project360 - Mar 4, 2016 2:40 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2015
Aconcagua Summit
Long summit day but pushed thru mentally reaching the top with extraordinary level of energy starting at 200 feet from the summit. I've always told other it takes 90% mental and 10% physical which held true on this glorious day standing on the highest point in the world outside the Himalayan ranges.
mgware - Jun 30, 2015 4:35 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2015
Its all about the weather
It's a looooong slog. Not the world's prettiest mountain, but well worth the effort. The air is thin up there!
HedUp - Mar 12, 2015 7:04 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2015
Not my style...
Got super lucky with weather and rapid acclimation. Made it to the summit on our 11th day at a fairly leisurely pace. from the Plaza Argentina side. Came down through Plaza de Mulas...VERY glad we went up the way that we did!
Climbed the False Polish route. Wanted to come down and do the Polish Direct afterwards, but the glacier was solid ice, and we didn't have the gear to do the whole thing in those conditions...a pitch or two, sure...but not the whole thing. Screw it, we were tired anyway!
I think I'll stick to the lower peaks that are more technically challenging where you can make a summit and enjoy a beer on your tailgate at camp that same evening. Much more my style! I already know I can suffer through discomfort, and that was the biggest challenge of this mountain (on this route) for me.
Now I know! Won't do it again, but wouldn't trade it for the world!
bergbacke - Mar 2, 2015 7:47 am Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2015
2015 Horcones
Fairly pleasant trek via the Normal route. 12 days alltogether. Great weather and clear skies except at the summit. Sadly.
Cloud Ocean - Feb 20, 2015 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2015
Solo, Horcones Valley Normal Route
Left my tent from Nido de Condores at 3 a.m. and reached the summit at 11:30 a.m., my 11th day on the mountain. 14 days total on the mountain including the laid back descent. Climbed solo and unsupported, but used mules to basecamp. Low winds on summit day, the day right after a big storm passed through.
My detailed trip report is here: https://thecloudocean.com/2015/03/08/aconcagua-trip-report/
Photographs are here: https://thecloudocean.com/2015/03/13/aconcagua-photographs-february-2015/
oliverkalt - Feb 8, 2015 1:39 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2015
360 traverse
After pre-acclimating on Volcan San Jose in Chile reached the summit in a single push from Plaza Argentina without load yo-yo to use a good weather window. We had the summit for ourselves for 1.5 hours in perfect windless condition. Our plan had been for Polish Glacier but we changed that and stuck to normal trail due to blank ice conditions and turned it into the "360 traverse". Descent via Plaza Mulas. The entire trip took 11 days including a rest day at Plaza Argentina (mandatory for medical check) and one at 5500m (Jan 8 - Jan 18).
yuval - Feb 3, 2015 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2015
False polish route
Great climb!
14 days in total via false polish route...
Andrew Rankine - Mar 11, 2014 12:19 am Date Climbed: Mar 6, 2014
Over 1 meter of snow!
Attempted to climb Aconcagua late in season, but a freak snowstorm which dumped over a meter of snow, making carrying to high camps difficult, followed by a windstorm that lasted longer than expected combined with worsening cough and altitude sickness made me turn back. Next time I will go during the Christmas holidays!
cab - Feb 19, 2014 3:59 pm Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2014
False Polish
Great weather most of the way for our two-man team. The summit was cloudless and windless and had incredible views. Got to the summit on Day 11 and spent a total of 14 days on the mountain.
scgrant - Jan 29, 2014 10:32 pm Date Climbed: Jan 17, 2014
Aconcagua
After spending a couple weeks acclimatizing on other peaks we were prepared for a relatively quick climb of Aconcagua. We reached high camp (White Rocks) in 4 days from the Horcones trailhead. Our forecasted clear, calm day leading into a good summit day, turned into about a foot and a half of new snow from 3 pm to midnight. After digging our way out of our tents the next day, we made the long snowy hike back down to base camp. There were no less than 80 tents at high camp that day, with everyone shooting for the same good weather window. That morning we only saw one group of 4 brave the new snow and impending storm, and head towards the top.
gato - Jan 24, 2014 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Jan 12, 2014
Number 4
Number 4, up the False Polish. Beautiful summit day, great expedition!
William Marler - Sep 26, 2013 12:46 pm Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2012
High winds
No success on the mountain this time other than having adventures keeping the camp sites intact in the high winds. Hunkered down at camp one holding the tent up from the inside for 12 hours straight. Some rest day. Two attempts at moving to camp 2 prevented by 100k per hour plus winds at Armeghino col. Returned to base camp to find it mostly destroyed with people heading home who no longer had tents. Most were destroyed in the storm we waited out at Camp 1. So it seems we were lucky after all.
Up on Guanacos (had the whole mountain to ourselves except for one AAI group), down on normal route
Bluebell08 - Apr 25, 2013 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Dec 13, 2012
Normal Route
Had some major winds at our Camp 2 (Nido) that collapsed and broke our tent; forced us down to wait it out at basecamp. Went for it all after a day wait, summit from Nido. Very windy throughout the trip, luckily caught a break for the big day 13 days in. Out on day 15, great trip!
gato - Feb 27, 2013 11:37 am Date Climbed: Feb 15, 2013
False Polish, #3
Another Aconcagua summit, #3 for me and another very successful trip with 100% of our group (10 folks total) on top. Crystal clear skies, light wind and stunning views all around.
gato - Feb 27, 2013 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jan 17, 2013
False Polish, #2
Second summit for me on a beautiful day, 100% success for our group of 12. Only group on top when we arrived!
matous - Jan 8, 2013 5:50 am Date Climbed: Feb 20, 2012
normal route
had to wait at nido condores for a better wind forecast... in the end we were lucky and had a great summit day with mild wind and good visibility...
William Marler - Dec 16, 2012 9:52 am Date Climbed: Dec 9, 2012
High winds
Forced back down off of the mountain by extreemly high winds. Base camp ravaged by winds. Worst wind conditions I have faced in the 25 years I have been coming to Argentina. Better luck next time I guess. Regards William
skorpeo - Dec 13, 2016 11:13 pm
Re: Lost luggage + Snow Storm = Better Luck Next Time!Wow, this was my summit day 2016-1-13. There was a large group. I think half the hikers turned around at Portozuelo Del Viento. The section to La Cueva was the most wind I've ever experienced. After that the Canaleta wasn't so bad, really high though.
project360 - Mar 4, 2016 2:40 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2015
Aconcagua SummitLong summit day but pushed thru mentally reaching the top with extraordinary level of energy starting at 200 feet from the summit. I've always told other it takes 90% mental and 10% physical which held true on this glorious day standing on the highest point in the world outside the Himalayan ranges.
mgware - Jun 30, 2015 4:35 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2015
Its all about the weatherIt's a looooong slog. Not the world's prettiest mountain, but well worth the effort. The air is thin up there!
HedUp - Mar 12, 2015 7:04 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2015
Not my style...Got super lucky with weather and rapid acclimation. Made it to the summit on our 11th day at a fairly leisurely pace. from the Plaza Argentina side. Came down through Plaza de Mulas...VERY glad we went up the way that we did!
Climbed the False Polish route. Wanted to come down and do the Polish Direct afterwards, but the glacier was solid ice, and we didn't have the gear to do the whole thing in those conditions...a pitch or two, sure...but not the whole thing. Screw it, we were tired anyway!
I think I'll stick to the lower peaks that are more technically challenging where you can make a summit and enjoy a beer on your tailgate at camp that same evening. Much more my style! I already know I can suffer through discomfort, and that was the biggest challenge of this mountain (on this route) for me.
Now I know! Won't do it again, but wouldn't trade it for the world!
bergbacke - Mar 2, 2015 7:47 am Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2015
2015 HorconesFairly pleasant trek via the Normal route. 12 days alltogether. Great weather and clear skies except at the summit. Sadly.
Cloud Ocean - Feb 20, 2015 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2015
Solo, Horcones Valley Normal RouteLeft my tent from Nido de Condores at 3 a.m. and reached the summit at 11:30 a.m., my 11th day on the mountain. 14 days total on the mountain including the laid back descent. Climbed solo and unsupported, but used mules to basecamp. Low winds on summit day, the day right after a big storm passed through.
My detailed trip report is here: https://thecloudocean.com/2015/03/08/aconcagua-trip-report/
Photographs are here: https://thecloudocean.com/2015/03/13/aconcagua-photographs-february-2015/
oliverkalt - Feb 8, 2015 1:39 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2015
360 traverseAfter pre-acclimating on Volcan San Jose in Chile reached the summit in a single push from Plaza Argentina without load yo-yo to use a good weather window. We had the summit for ourselves for 1.5 hours in perfect windless condition. Our plan had been for Polish Glacier but we changed that and stuck to normal trail due to blank ice conditions and turned it into the "360 traverse". Descent via Plaza Mulas. The entire trip took 11 days including a rest day at Plaza Argentina (mandatory for medical check) and one at 5500m (Jan 8 - Jan 18).
yuval - Feb 3, 2015 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2015
False polish routeGreat climb!
14 days in total via false polish route...
xchallenging - Dec 1, 2014 11:30 am
Next timeAttempted. Will try again.
Andrew Rankine - Mar 11, 2014 12:19 am Date Climbed: Mar 6, 2014
Over 1 meter of snow!Attempted to climb Aconcagua late in season, but a freak snowstorm which dumped over a meter of snow, making carrying to high camps difficult, followed by a windstorm that lasted longer than expected combined with worsening cough and altitude sickness made me turn back. Next time I will go during the Christmas holidays!
cab - Feb 19, 2014 3:59 pm Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2014
False PolishGreat weather most of the way for our two-man team. The summit was cloudless and windless and had incredible views. Got to the summit on Day 11 and spent a total of 14 days on the mountain.
scgrant - Jan 29, 2014 10:32 pm Date Climbed: Jan 17, 2014
AconcaguaAfter spending a couple weeks acclimatizing on other peaks we were prepared for a relatively quick climb of Aconcagua. We reached high camp (White Rocks) in 4 days from the Horcones trailhead. Our forecasted clear, calm day leading into a good summit day, turned into about a foot and a half of new snow from 3 pm to midnight. After digging our way out of our tents the next day, we made the long snowy hike back down to base camp. There were no less than 80 tents at high camp that day, with everyone shooting for the same good weather window. That morning we only saw one group of 4 brave the new snow and impending storm, and head towards the top.
gato - Jan 24, 2014 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Jan 12, 2014
Number 4Number 4, up the False Polish. Beautiful summit day, great expedition!
William Marler - Sep 26, 2013 12:46 pm Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2012
High windsNo success on the mountain this time other than having adventures keeping the camp sites intact in the high winds. Hunkered down at camp one holding the tent up from the inside for 12 hours straight. Some rest day. Two attempts at moving to camp 2 prevented by 100k per hour plus winds at Armeghino col. Returned to base camp to find it mostly destroyed with people heading home who no longer had tents. Most were destroyed in the storm we waited out at Camp 1. So it seems we were lucky after all.
whatdoIknow - May 28, 2013 10:50 am
GuanacosUp on Guanacos (had the whole mountain to ourselves except for one AAI group), down on normal route
Bluebell08 - Apr 25, 2013 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Dec 13, 2012
Normal RouteHad some major winds at our Camp 2 (Nido) that collapsed and broke our tent; forced us down to wait it out at basecamp. Went for it all after a day wait, summit from Nido. Very windy throughout the trip, luckily caught a break for the big day 13 days in. Out on day 15, great trip!
gato - Feb 27, 2013 11:37 am Date Climbed: Feb 15, 2013
False Polish, #3Another Aconcagua summit, #3 for me and another very successful trip with 100% of our group (10 folks total) on top. Crystal clear skies, light wind and stunning views all around.
gato - Feb 27, 2013 11:35 am Date Climbed: Jan 17, 2013
False Polish, #2Second summit for me on a beautiful day, 100% success for our group of 12. Only group on top when we arrived!
matous - Jan 8, 2013 5:50 am Date Climbed: Feb 20, 2012
normal routehad to wait at nido condores for a better wind forecast... in the end we were lucky and had a great summit day with mild wind and good visibility...
William Marler - Dec 16, 2012 9:52 am Date Climbed: Dec 9, 2012
High windsForced back down off of the mountain by extreemly high winds. Base camp ravaged by winds. Worst wind conditions I have faced in the 25 years I have been coming to Argentina. Better luck next time I guess. Regards William