Page 4 - 1994 AMA Summer
P. 4
GETTING THERE:
Best via Santiago. Chile or else Buenos Aires. Argentina.
Permits: Must go to Mendoza to get per mit for Aconcagua National Park. Address for permits is: Subsecretaria de Turismo 1143 San M artin M endoza 5500 Argentina
Tel (including int'l code from UK): 010 54 61 242800
Transport: A private car from Santiago to Mendoza for 2 persons and gear costs approx USS 110. Bus or taxi costs approx USS 20-30 per person from the Bus
ORIENTATION
C H IL E
To Santiago
Condor
N
i
A R G E N T IN A
To Mendoza
Station Sud in Santiago. From Mendoza to Puente del Inca is approx USS 10 per person by bus taking about 4 hours, with departures most days at 6am and 10am.
ACCOMMODATION AND CAMPSITES:
Penitentes: Bunkhouse with bar, restaurant and showers:
c/o Andesport (David Vela)
Rufino Ortega 390
5500 M endoza
Republic Argentina (Telefax 054-61 241003)
Confluencia ( 3368m ): Running water, plenty of space for tents
Plaza de Mulas (4210m): 2 sites - Hotel on west side of valley, and Campsite on east side:
Hotel: Showers, bar. food and accommodation. Typical prices: Rooms USS 20-40
Shower - USS 5
Helicopter to Valley - USS 120/person (includes sack and grip) Sandwich - USS 5
Tea/coffee - USS 2 . 5
Beer - USS 4
Campsite: Running water (streams) except at night and early morning
Camp Canada (4900m): Small (<10 tent sites) on a buttress with no running water (melt snow) exposed to winds
Camp Condor (5560m): Flat, wide area with unlimited camp sites . No running water (melt snow ) and invariably windy.
Camp Berlin (5800m): Disgustingly dirty and insanitary small area with only limited immediate area suitable for camping . One derelict hut (no roof) and 2 cramped shelters with room for about 3-4 persons each . Rubbish up to 1. 5m deep. Melt snow. MISCELLANEOUS TIPS:
Take USS in cash. In Argentina USS are accepted on 1:1 with local currency. Travellers cheques and credit cards are virtually unusable to get cash, especially in Argentina, but BUCI Bank in Mendoza will cash USS 200 on VISA or American Express.
The ‘N orm al' route is not technical but cram pons are advised in case conditions have changed.
All camping is on rocks and gravel, not grass. Gear has been stolen when left unattended, especially if obvious, ie in deliber ately collapsed tents, or if on main ascent/descent path (s ) . Mountain is exposed and very windy at almost all times.
Sterilise/puritab all water due to insanitary conditions found at
2
\K\n MOI 'SIMM I K
A concagua (6960m), Argentina, South America.
Border
(Not to scale)
Plaza de Muías# *
•Beriin
Confluencia Las Cuevas
(Argentin« Cusloms)
AAconcagua Penitentes
•------------
Puente de Vacas
Puente del Inca
all the m ountain cam psites. Food should
be bought in Santiago
or
M endoza.
Despite recent reports in UK press, Epigas is not readily avail able in M endoza or Santiago. W hite gas, a solvent quite good for high altitude use, is available for MSR stoves: do not use kerosene which is very dirty. White gas cannot be taken on buses but is available at Penitentes at US$ 4/litre.
Permit is valid for 21 days but this does not appear to be rigid ly enforced.
Aconcagua is a rather tedious mountain - by the normal route - but there are a number of more attractive peaks (> 5,000m) to be climbed from Plaza de Mulas. The Polish Glacier (east side) has 2 or 3 variations in what is reputedly the most attractive area. Some technical assistance is required for the regular Polish Glacier route.
Data was gathered January 1993 and subject to change.
