Aconcagua Guided Team Climb and Traverse

Aconcagua is truly one of the great mountains of the world. At 22,841 feet tall it is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere, and the tallest peak in the world outside of the Himalayas. It is an an amazing mountain, and one that is easily underestimated. Despite not requiring glacier travel or roped climbing techniques to reach it’s summit, Aconcagua is a serious mountaineering adventure. Start to finish the climb starts in beautiful Mendoza, then works its way up to the highest point on earth outside the Himalayas, then winds down dramatic high altitude valleys back to civilization. Even in summer Aconcagua’s cold temps, weather, and altitude can provide seasoned mountaineers with a true challenge. As you prepare for your expedition please take your training and preparation seriously, don’t skimp on the pre-trip work and you’ll thank yourself time and time again by being able to enjoy the climb rather than simply getting through it. Our signature CTSS expeditions ascend the mountain via a variation on the “False Polish” that CTSS owner Mike Hamill helped develop over a decade ago. This route approaches the mountain through the Vacas and Relinchos Valleys and uses the first camp on the “False Polish”. From here it traverses over to the higher camps on the old “Guanacos” route, and uses one more camp than the typical “False Polish” climb. This route is less crowded and cleaner than the normal route or “False Polish” routes. It incorporates shorter days and better climbing terrain than the “False Polish”. The final camp is higher than the “False Polish” High Camp which makes for a more “do-able” summit day.By traversing the mountain and descending the normal route to Plaza de Mulas, we see a different side of the mountain, have an easier descent, and enjoy a shorter hike back out to the road, thus taking a day off the descent. This new variation offers you the best of climbing on Aconcagua; less people, less repetition in your climbing, a cleaner route, shorter days, better terrain, more variation of scenery, and a shorter/easier descent. Overall, it’s a huge advantage and our valley approach has much earlier light and is a bit warmer than the other valley. CTSS owner Mike Hamill is a veteran of 30 personal Aconcagua expeditions and some of our guides have well over 50 summits! We love the time spent on Aconcagua and it keeps drawing us back. It is our goal at CTSS to use our cumulative, 20+ years of experience leading Aconcagua expeditions to create a smooth and successful climb for you.