Climb one of the seven summits

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Below is a non detailed version (this is only for “packing your bags”). Once you sign up we will send you a complete equipment list with some example of model and brand. It is very important that every member arrive with the appropriate equipment. Although there are equipment stores in Argentina it may be difficult to find what you’re looking for. If you are buying new garments for this expedition, get the modern lighter gear.

Feel free to download a copy of the equipment list here.

Items marked with :
** are available for rent.
* are available for purchase.

Head

  • Ski Goggles**
  • Balaclava*
  • Warm fleece or wool hat*
  • Glacier glasses*
  • Extra pair of sunglasses (these don’t need to be glacier glasses)*
  • Hat or cap with neck protection for sun on the approach days
  • High U.V. Buff (optional)
  • Neoprene face mask

Hands

  • Fleece liners
  • Gore-Tex ski gloves
  • Expedition Mittens**

Upper Body

  • (2) Polypropylene or wool top – one medium weight and one expedition weight
  • (1) Fleece, softshell or synthetic insulated jacket
  • (1) Insulated vest (optional)
  • Ultralight wind jacket (optional)
  • Gore-Tex parka
  • (1)Expedition Down Parka with down hood**
  • Long sleeve lightweight cotton type shirt for the hike in

Lower Body

  • (2) Polypropylene or wool bottoms – one lightweight and one expedition weight
  • (1) One pair of schoeller or nylon soft shell pants
  • Insulated over pants or fleece pants with full side zips**
  • Lightweight Gore-Tex pants with full side zips

Feet

  • 2 pair of socks for the approach
  • 3 pair of sock combinations (in addition to above)
  • Gaiters
  • Down or synthetic booties (optional)**
  • Double plastic boots**
  • Light weight hiking boots, trekking shoes or trail runners
  • Sandals or neoprene booties.

Sleeping

  • Down or synthetic sleeping bag, rated -10 degrees F (-26 degrees C)**
  • Compression sack for sleeping bag
  • Thermarest pad with repair kit

Backpacks and other bags

  • Internal frame backpack**
  • Day pack*
  • Some medium and large stuff sacks
  • 3 heavy-duty plastic bags
  • 1 large and 1 extra large duffel bags**
  • An assortment of Ziploc bags

Miscellaneous

  • Trekking poles or ski poles (MANDATORY)**
  • Bandanna for sun protection and cleaning glasses, optional if you have a Buff
  • Chemical hand warmers 2 pairs (purchased in most outdoor stores)
  • Ear plugs (for those windy nights or snoring tent mates)
  • Potable aqua (1 bottle)
  • Mole foam or skin for treating blisters (MANDATORY)
  • (1) roll of athletic tape (MANDATORY)
  • Knife with built in scissors for cutting mole foam/skin.
  • Sunscreen SPF 30 or higher. Consider bringing Zinc oxide if you burn easily.
  • Head lamp with extra batteries
  • Toiletry items (toothbrush/toothpaste, baby wipes-very useful! & tampons)
  • (2) Lip balms (chapstick with SPF)
  • (2) Water bottles (two liters capacity) and 1 one-liter thermos – mandatory!, total capacity 3 liters.
  • Many people like to have a separate wide mouth bottle only for peeing in. This bottle should be clearly labeled!
  • Cup/Insulated Mug, bowl and spoon

Climbing

  • Climbing seat harness (Polish Glacier only)
  • (1) Locking Carabiner (Polish Glacier only)
  • Ice axe and leash 60-70 cm**
  • Crampons**

Food

  • 2-3 lbs of lunch food

Medical

  • Ibuprofen, Motrin or Advil
  • Aspirin
  • Blister kit (athletic tape, mole foam, and 5-6 Band-Aids)

Optional Items

  • Compact camera
  • Paperback book
  • Pee funnel (for women only)
  • MP3 player

Climber Experiences

Dear Joaquin,
Thank you for everything and making our trip to Aconcagua 100% successful! The entire team reached the summit via the False Polish route the 12th of February. Your services and staff helped make the expedition a better experience for our team. Carolina and Marcelo were great!

Bill Crouse Lead Guide Adventure Consultants
New Zealand

Mecha (Gabriel Rocamora) was a great lead guide, I can’t recommend him highly enough !

Edouard Derom
USA

Everything went very smooth, it was great to have a small bag of stuff sent from Plaza Argentina around to Plaza de Mulas, as we could have clean underwear, socks and our trail shoes without having to carry them to high camp.

Tatiana seemed very knowledgeable with first aid and altitude sickness, and seemed well prepared.  Tatiana’s food was awesome. The other groups in our camps were jealous when all they had was rice and we had fresh baked pizza in Camp 2! A couple mornings in base camp, there was not much provided for breakfast (one day was only toast) and we finally had to ask them each day to make eggs.

Joaquin was very helpful with all of my requests, and very quick to respond, which is one of the main reasons I selected KL Adventure to work with on this trip.

The transfers and transport was fine.  All vehicles were comfortable and there was plenty of room.  Hyatt is awesome of course. Penitentes is not great, but obviously there is no other option.

The trip was great, we will definitely work with you again for our 2010 climb, and also hope to add a Patagonia trip in the near future. It was also nice to have Joaquin meet the group in Mendoza and to spend more time with him on the drive to Santiago. We would definitely want to have Tatiana as our guide again.  She was exceptional and there was not another guide on the mountain I would have rather had than her. It is also very nice to have a local guide as your leader, better in my opinion than having American or European guides.

Billi also did a very nice job, as an assistant guide she was great.  The two of them worked very well together.

Andrew Nachman Northwest Voyageur
USA

Let me just say thank you for how you were with my wife while I was on the mountain. This was a very important to me and I am very pleased that you were so helpful with letting my wife know what was going on.
Leo was a fantastic guide with great energy, and I could not ask for a better companion for the duration of the trip!! All in all, the trip was fantastic and well organized!!
Anyhow, thanks again for all your hospitality and helpfullness…you guys should be proud of your business!

Erhard Zeising
USA

Aconcagua Express & KL Adventure was truly a wonderful experience. From the pre- trip client care to the world class guide and staff, fabulous base camp cuisine, traveling safely and ethically, superior route experience and better pricing than most other outfits. Truly a fantastic trip that I have no reservations in recommending to Americans or anyone else interested in a climb.

Eric Hornbeck
USA

Hallo Joaquin
Ich möchte mich auf diesem Weg für Dein perfektes Service bei unserer Aconcagua Expedition bedanken. Es war von Anfang an eine Freude mit Dir zusammen zu arbeiten. Die Transfers, sowie die Reservierung und Bezahlung der Permits haben wunderbar geklappt, auch die Hotels waren einfach klasse.

Es gilt besonders hervor zu heben die Flexibilität von Aconcagua Express bei Terminänderungen und die Freundlichkeit der Mitarbeiter. Ich werde Dich und Deine Firma auf alle Fälle bei den Alpinschulen in Österreich, Italien und Deutschland weiterempfehlen.

Christine und Werner
Austria

Overall environment of the expedition was nice, relaxed and very good.
Guides were able proactively to solve all unexpected issues during the trip, and responded to the requests in fast and professional way.

Sarma Jeca
Sweden

Tatiana and Billi were great guides on the Aconcagua expedition. I’d be happy to climb another mountain with them again!! Our food was better than that from other groups going up the mountain, and it was nice to have hot thermoses brought to our tent in mornings (other groups noticed this, and the fact that they had to go get their own water, among other things less positive than that of our group). I always felt safe, that Tatiana & Billi knew what they were doing on the mountain, and that they had enough energy to handle whatever could come our way. On summit day, Billi brought a guy down to Camp 3 from 1/3 (or more) of the way up, then she ascended and caught up to us, in order to summit from Camp 3 in only 5 ½ hours! A real rock star. Then, when I was really burnt out almost all the way back to camp (with heavier snow coming down and covering the trail), Billi helped me back to Camp3… a real help when it was needed, and on the part of the trail where accidents are most prone to happen (way down from summit day). This was really appreciated. Our staff helped create a real team atmosphere, and our group was the “cool table” at the lower camps, and out dining tent was the social center of activity with several groups joining us for cards, games, etc after dinner. Our pace up the mountain was the right speed, not to fast and not too slow, enabling 5 of 6 of our group to get to the summit, and the remaining 1 doing his personal best on summit day! One guy from another group was “turned around” partway up on summit day; he later felt that he could have made it to the top with a slightly slower group pace. I’ve seen this before on other mountains. Our pace was just right! We were properly aware of the mountain challenges before the expedition, and the challenge met my personal expectations. I came off the mountain without any physical aches and pains, feeling good about the expedition and ready for more mountains in the future! Perhaps Elbrus and Denali, the 2nd with some technical training and practice. I have NO COMPLAINTS about this expedition! I believe our guides, our food were better than that of other groups, that our group gear was appropriate, and that we were properly instructed on how to prepare for the mountain and which gear to bring! I enjoyed the company of the clients as well, and that of the other teams headed up the mountain with us. This was a great expedition, and I’m lucky to have made some new friends on the mountain.

I’d recommend KL Adventure for anyone wanting to climb Aconcagua, in particular Tatiana as lead guide. Likewise I’d climb a mountain (Nepal?) with Billi and recommend her guiding services as well. Best Wishes, Mark.

Mark
USA

Lieber Joaquin,
Als erstes möchte ich mich bei Dir für Deine Leistungen bei der Expedition zum Aconcagua bedanken. Bergführer Abi Kirschner hat sich sehr lobend über Deine Arbeit geäußert. Auch Pierre Kintgen war mit Bergführer und KL Adventure sehr, sehr zufrieden. Ich denke, das wird unseren gemeinsamen Produkten sehr gut tun – denn die Teilnehmer tragen Ihre Zufriedenheit weiter und das ist die beste Werbung für uns alle. Ich danke Dir und Deinem Team für die hervorragende Arbeit und Bemühungen! Herzliche Grüße aus München.

Michael Roepke
DAV-Summit Club Manager, Munchen
Germany

Gabriel and Mariana are great very sensitive, customer minded and fun to be with. And very well prepared and responsible.

Frans Cromme
Netherlands