Rapid Ascent of the Aconcagua 360 Route
Top three reasons to climb Aconcagua
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Perfect conditions and terrain to train for climbing Mount Everest
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The highest mountain outside of Asia and one of the Seven Summits
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The 22,000-feet-high Summit Ridge offering spectacular views
One of the Seven Summits and the highest peak outside of Himalaya — Aconcagua, “The Sentinel of Stone” — is located at the heart of the Central Andes. The mountain is impressive both in stature and beauty, which explains why it was considered sacred by the Incas who used it as a place of worship and sacrifice, and why so many climbers today find it so alluring. While it is a very physical climb, it is one of the less technical climbs that you can use as a stepping stone to bigger peaks such as Mount Everest or Cho Oyu. Still, summiting Aconcagua is a massive feat in itself! With a summit elevation of 22,838 ft (6,961 meters), it requires a lot of acclimatization, endurance, and consistency. With spectacular panoramic views, glaciers, snowy slopes, and interesting history, the 360° route combines the best features of the other popular routes such as the Polish Glacier allowing climbers to experience more of the terrain. Find out more about why climbing Aconcagua is a must-do for advancing mountaineers from Logan Talbott, AMGA / IFMGA mountain guide and co-owner of Alpenglow Expeditions.
SeasonNovember through March |
Nearest cityMendoza, Argentina is just over three hours away |
Duration14 days |
Skill levelAdvanced |
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Itinerary
Rapid Ascent
Rapid Ascent is a unique approach to climbing big mountains such as Aconcagua. This innovative program developed by Adrian Ballinger combines the application of hypoxic training, precise logistics, and small team sizes to reduce the overall time spent on the mountain, while greatly increasing the chance of success on your climbing expedition! On average, Rapid Ascent expeditions reduce the time of traditional expeditions by 30% – 50%. A traditional expedition such as this one usually takes 3 or 4 weeks. With this program, it can be done in 14 days or less, allowing busy climbers to follow their passion in the mountains, while maintaining the responsibilities of a busy life.
In the period of 4-8 weeks prior to your climbing, you will spend at least 8 hours in the hypoxic tent each night — at home! With hypoxic training, you will pre-acclimatize to the high altitudes before even reaching Mendoza and without sacrificing your work or time with the family. By removing the time-intensive process of acclimatizing as you climb, you are able to move directly to base camps above 14,000’ (4200m). Anyone with good fitness, some prior experience at altitude and a little discipline at home can reap the benefits of hypoxic training.