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Interested in Aconcagua - Dec/Jan 5-Oct-2011 At 1:21:35 AM vwills

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To make what is a hellish walk (up the ruta normal) more interesting I would suggest

a) acclimatise elsewhere. We went to Cordon del Plata, south of Mendoza, for 8 days where you can trek up mountains, culminating in a 6000m peak and sleeping at 5000m. Much prettier in a way. This means you can spend less time on Aconcagua but be safe. Aconcagua is pretty arid and full of seven summiteers and underequipped, underprepared trekkers. It is good experience for altitude and expedition planning. Aesthetically I wouldnt repeat it.

b) Logistics are easy. Go to Mendoza. Use a company to facilitate transport, base camp and mules. We used CampoBase but that was in 2005. They did stuff up our expedition food by sending it ahead to the wrong base camp, but we got it back minus the milo which had been pierced by an icetool. Mendoza is a cool place with great food, and if you are into it,wine.

c)Avoid the Ruta normal and come up the other valley, doing the "False Polish" or even better actually climb the Polish glacier if you have the skills so you feel like you have been on a mountain. Walk out the "normal way" thus doing a traverse.

d) Take warm boots and clothes. It still is a 7000m peak and can behave like one.

e) Fitness doesnt help you acclimatise. But it does help ferry loads up and down, and summit day can be a long one