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Topic Date User

Interested in Aconcagua - Dec/Jan 4-Oct-2011 At 10:08:12 PM Beryllium

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I went with a local company, Fernando Grajales. Going with them really alleviated all the stress of trying to work out the logistics. Base camp is well facilitated with internet, porters and medical facilities. Hot showers are available for around $10US. With regards to kitchen facilities, each company has their own kitchen staff and mess tent set up for their clients. As an independent climber, I’m sure you would be able to arrange to use their facilities.

Having a good level of fitness certainly helps but does not necessarily prevent altitude sickness.

I’d like to give it another shot but definitely not this year though. If I were to do it again, I’d bring a water filtration system. At the higher camps you need to melt snow for water which can be a little dirty due to the mountain being quite dusty. This can be off putting when you have to drink at least 4 litres of water a day to combat altitude sickness and dehydration.

Also, next time I would try to stay somewhere comfortable at altitude in a city like La Paz or Cusco for a couple of weeks or even climb Cotopaxi to acclimatise before attempting Aconcagua.

If you haven’t had any high altitude experience, Kilimanjaro is a good mountain to start off with. Aconcagua is in a different league to Kilimanjaro.

If you have any other questions, let me know.