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:::EXPEDITION:EXPEDITION:EXPEDITION:EXPEDITION::: |
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POLISH GLACIER ACONCAGUA EXPEDITION 2009 |
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i-EXPLORER.ORG invites you for its south hemisphere summer 2009 Polish Glacier East Face Aconcagua Expedition (6962m) at the Argentinean Andes Range.
It will be attempted the Direct Polish Glacier Route in the West Face.
It is an 18 days (9 climbing) expedition. Open dates scheduled for February/March.
Prices from 2500€ (3200$ / 2100£).
This is a guided expedition where all members will share logistics, services and common climbing equipment except the personal gear.
The expedition has a leader which is responsible for strategy and logistics.
All members assume their responsibility and will follow directives from the briefings.
In spite of the common objective, every member will be able to adapt their own rhythm and schedule.
The expedition will attempt a fast and light type of climb, with 2 altitude camps.
Possible climbing of the nearby Cerro Ameghino (5883m / 19301ft), as a way of acclimatization, according to weather and available time. It`s a single day effort from camp 1 or 2.
ACONCAGUA (6962m / 22840ft) 32.39ºS / 70.01ºW
Ranked 2nd in the 7 highest summits by continent and 1st in Argentine and all American continent, it is also the highest mountain outside Asia. It is located in Western Argentina, near the Chilean border and not too far from the main Trans-Andean highway connecting central Argentina to Santiago de Chile or the Pacific. Believed originally to be over 7000m, it appears usually with the heights of 6958 or 6962m according to the source, but accurate GPS readings in 2001 has fixed its real elevation at 6961.83m. There is also a South Peak with 6930m connected to the main summit through an almost 1km long ridge.
Cerro (peak) Aconcagua or Akonkagua derives its name from the Quechua Inca word Ackon Cahuak, meaning Stone Sentinel.
This geologically complex mountain, marine sediments covered by volcanic rock, often presents a harsh climate due to the closeness with the Pacific Ocean in the West and the drier and hotter flat Pampa plains in the East. Highly humid oceanic winds are not uncommon, bringing extreme cold and storms. Usually those can be predicted due to the formation of the famous Hongo (mushroom) of clouds that sits on top of the mountain. The severe weather is probably the main climbing difficult. The wind chill factor can easily make the temperature drop almost 30ºF with 40mph winds, which can bring frostbite in 30 minutes.
Located 180km west of Mendoza city, inside the Parque Provincial Aconcagua (Natural Park), where special rules are applied for the admission with particular care of the waste dispose. Fines are applied to those not following the strict instructions. With five small glaciers running down its slopes, there are three main approaches to the mountain routes. One to the west side and one to the south face sharing part of the same trek approach and another to the east side leading to our objective. |
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EXPLORING A PLANET LIKE NO OTHER |
