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"Climbing Ojos de Salado 6893m and Aconcagua 6962m The two highest in South America The Chilean high plateau desert east of Copiapó, above Chañaral, is well known by the world mountaineers as it concentrates the highest number of six thousand meter peaks in the Andes. During this trip, we propose to climb the two highest in South America, first climb is Mulas Muertas as part of our acclimatization and then Vn. Ojos del Salado. The highest volcano in the world. During the trip we will come across places of amazingly beautiful and diverse nature, and from the summits the 360 degree views beyond description. After our attempt on Ojo`s del Salado we drive through Argentina heading south towards Mendoza. From Mendoza we head out to Aconcagua. The highest mountain in the America’s, our attempt will be a quick ascent as we will have acclimatized on Ojo’s del Salado. On this trip we will see very different regions and cultural difference. Program details Type of activity: Non technical climbing, high altitude trekking Difficulty: Good fitness Experience required: no experience Basic climbing skills Grade of climbs: F Number of days: 25 days, 24 night’s Tour starts in Copiapo Chile Tour ends in Mendoza Argentina Best time of year: November to March Season: Dry season: days are mild and nights are cold Highlights: Visiting the Atacama Desert, Climbing the two highest mountains in South America. Visiting Chile and Argentina. Program Day 1: Copiapo airport - Copiapo 200m Transfer to hotel, meeting with guide and question time. 45 mins drive, Hotel 3* Day 2: Copiapo - Valle Chico 3000m We leave Copiapo in the morning and head east, up the dry valleys. Scenery changes from dry mountains to rivers in the lower valleys. Our camp is along the road in one of the dry valleys. This first night is part of our acclimatizing before we head up to the Altiplano. 2 - 3 hour drive BLD camping Day 3: Valle Chico - Laguna Santa Rosa 3800m - Laguna Verde 4350m In the morning we can make a small trek in the area before moving camp to Laguna Verde we head out for the drive up to the Alitplano. Our drive today takes us through an incredible landscape that leads us to Laguna Verde 4200m during the drive we pass Laguna Santa Rosa, a lake where we can see bird life and salt flats. Later we join the international route to Argentina. We have a short drive today and this will give us time enjoy a dip in the hot springs near Laguna Verde. 3 - 4 hour drive BLD camping Day 4: Laguna Verde - Mulas Muertas 5890m - Laguna Verde Part of our acclimatizing we will climb Mulas Muertas. Our starts from our camp at Laguna Verde. We take a small trail leading up the north east ridge. Looking back, we have some great views of Laguna Verde. Most people don’t reach the very summit at the climb is too long. Around 5400m is a small flat area on the ridge and this is the high point for most people. Same way back down to Laguna Verde. 6 - 7 hour trek BLD camping Day 5: Laguna Verde 4350m - Atacama, base camp 5300m Today we drive up to base camp. The road follows the dried out river beds. We cross sand flats and steep rock, which are sometimes snow-covered slopes. At base camp there is a small hut Atacama refuge. This place will be our base camp for the next days. 1 - 2 hour drive BLD camping Day 6: Atacama, base camp -Tejos Refugio 5837m - Base Camp Today we carry some food and fuel to Camp I Tejos. The trail is sandy and rocky. We walk mainly on the road which is easy walking. Once at Tejos we drop our gear inside the metallic hut. Here we have a rest and take a look around the area before we head back down to base camp. The walk up and sleep low is to improve our acclimatization. 5 - 7 hour trek BLD camping Day 7: Rest day at Atacama, base camp We use this day to rest and recover, before we go up to camp I and give the final push to the summit, which will be physically demanding. We will prepare our gear for the summit day. This day could be a reserve day in case we have bad weather. BLD camping Day 8: Atacama, base camp - Tejos Refugio 5825m Today we move up high camp, following the same trail. We also carry the rest of the gear we will need for the summit day. We will arrive early to get hydrated and rest for tomorrows climb. 3 - 4 hour trek BLD camping Day 9: Tejos Refuge - Summit 6893m - Tejos Refuge - Atacama, base camp Starting very early in the morning, we climb 8 to 9 hours up to the summit. The route follows a small zig zag trail up to around 6400m. From here the trail becomes loss on pomes stones making the terrain loos, the ground that may be snowy or dry. This part will take us to the carter rim and from here we can see the true summit. From the carter rim there is a small track in the rock where we reach the final rock climb to the summit. Normally there is a fixed rope in this section to help with this part. From this amazing summit we will see all the major summits of the area, including Tres Cruces, Pissis just to name a few. Depending on our time we can walk back down to Refugio Atacama. 12 - 16 hour climb BLD camping Day 10: Atacama Refugio - Fiambala 1505m Argentina - Chilecito 1080m We dismantle the tents, organize the gear, pack the equipment and load the cars. We First drive back to the Chilean border control, where we get our exit stamps to leave Chile. We then drive back to Laguna Verde and onto Argentina. Before the town of Fiambala is the Argentinean border control. Here we get our entrance stamps into Argentina. We then drive to Fiambala, a small town. From here we have a 3 hour drive to Chilecito. 8 - 9 hour drive, times include border control crossings BL Hotel 2* Day 11: Chilecito - Mendoza 750m We want to leave early for the long drive to Mendoza. We drive along the Andes heading south. Scenery is changing all the time from dry canyons to lush rivers. We can stop for lunch in Villa Union, before the last stretch to Mendoza. 7 - 8 hour drive, times include some stops B Hotel 3* Day 12: Mendoza - Penitentes 2500m In the morning we get our climbing permits before we drive out to Penitents. The drive is along the Rio Mendoza. Along the way we can see white water rafting down the Rio Mendoza. A lunch stop along the way at the quite town of Uspallata, after lunch we have one more hour to the hotel at Penitents. Gear packing for the mules, for the next days. 3 - 4 hour drive B Hotel 2* Day 13: Penitents - Pampa Leña 2800m A small transfer by car to Puente de Vacas, from where we start our hike up to Pampa Lena. We follow the river up the valley. Along the way we can see green, yellow and black lizards lurking from the sun backed rocks. We want to take today’s walk at an easy pace, as it will help with the acclimatizing. 4 - 5 hour trek BLD camping Day 14: Pampa Leña - Casa de Piedra 3200m Not much altitude gain today, but we have a long walk up the valley. Following the Rio Vacas up stream we see a little wild life and if lucky we can spot wild Guanacos. Just before reaching camp we have a first views of Aconcagua. We can see the east and south face. We also can see the valley we have to walk up the next day. 6 - 8 hour trek BLD camping Day 15: Casa de Piedra - Plaza Argentina 4200m Today is our last day of walking to reach base camp, the walk is up a different valley called the Relinchos. We follow the river coming from base camp, we also have a lot of climbing. We really feel the altitude. In front us we have great views of the south and east face. This is one of our most important days for acclimatizing. If you feel good arriving to base camp, it will help a lot. 7 - 8 hour trek BLD camping, Base camp services Day 16: Base camp Rest day and medical checkup by the medical staff in the base camp. Some light actives in base camp. BLD camping, base camp services Day 17: Base camp - Camp 1 4900m Today we move up to camp 1. The walk follows a small trail through the moraine. There are some steep sections along the way. Once at camp 1 we set up camp. 5 - 7 hour trek BLD camping Day 18: Camp 1 - Camp 2 5400m Chopper camp or Camp 3 de Guanacos After packing up camp we head up the valley to the Collado Ameghino 5367m. At the pass we take a trail heading right to our camp. 4 - 6 hour trek BLD camping Day 19: Camp 2 - Camp 3 5850m Cholera Later start as we can really start to feel the cold mornings. Small zig zag track up to a long travers. Another small zig zag to reach our camp. 4 - 6 hour trek BLD camping Day 20: Spare day Spare day for rest or bad weather. This day can be used at the lower camps or any were on the program. BLD camping Day 21: High camp, Cholera 5850m - Summit 6962m - high camp Normal route Today is our big day, to try for the summit! We leave around 6 am. It’s going to be cold on the mountain, so this means we want to dress well. The trail is well defined as it zig zags its way up the mountain. The first mayor place is Independencia 6200m a small wooden hu"
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