Polish Glacier Traverse (ACP)

Strenuous expedition
19 days from Mendoza, Argentina

Cerro Aconcagua (6959m), the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, lies just within Argentina, some 12 kilometres from the Chilean border.

This itinerary takes you up to the summit via the scenic Vacas Valley, descending the shorter Normal Route, giving you a complete 360 view of Aconcagua.

We have three trekking and climbing programmes on the mountain in total: this Polish Glacier Traverse, the Normal Route, and the Vacas Valley route.

The itinerary is physically strenuous and a great challenge, but is not technically demanding. It is suitable for most adventurous people with a good level of physical fitness, and experience of trekking and camping in remote mountain areas.

Experience in the use of crampons and ice axe and crossing crevasses is not a requirement for this route. We take you up the more beautiful Vacas Valley side of the mountain and then return down the normal route, giving you the full 360 degree experience of this unique mountain.

For Aconcagua, mules are used to transport food and climbing equipment to (and rubbish out from) the base camps. Group members and guides carry just a day sack to Base Camp, with mules carrying everything else. However, above Base Camp you carry all of your own equipment in a large backpack up and down the mountain. Porters available at extra cost. We use a guide:client ratio of approximately 1:3 on Aconcagua, as the better the ratio the higher the chances of summit success for all. Groups ize is a maximum of 12 but is usually around 6 clients and 2 guides.

The most stable weather conditions are between mid- December and the end of January.

For more information about high altitude, please visit the Medex website.

Here you can download, for free, Travel at High Altitude - a guide to staying healthy in the mountains, a booklet which draws on the research and experience of more than 20 internationally-recognised experts.