The Mountain: Aconcagua (22,841 ft / 6962 m), the highest mountain outside of Asia.
Expedition Date: (23 days).
Route: False Polish (a.k.a. Polish Traverse).
Climbing Team: Miguel Forjan, Mike Ostby + 1 or 2 other climbers.
Day 1: Depart LAX via Santiago, Chile.
Day 2: Arrival in Mendoza (2428'/740m), Argentina. Stay in Hotel Nutibara. Sleep at Hotel Nutibara, Mendoza (2428').
Day 3: Full rest day in Mendoza. Go get the climbing permits. Get fresh food supplies, white gas, etc. Sleep again at Hotel Nutibara, Mendoza (2428').
Day 4: Take the 6:00am Expreso Uspallata bus (EUSA) from Mendoza to the town of Penitentes (8860'/2700m). There are 103 miles (165 km) from Mendoza to Penitentes. Bus arrives at 10:00am in Penitentes. In Penitentes, organize mules with Fernando Grajales and shuttle the 4.4 miles (7 km) from Penitentes to Punta de Vacas (7900'/2408m). Then, start the 3-day 24 mile (39 km) approach trek to Plaza Argentina base camp. Mules will carry all of our gear so that we can enjoy the approach hike without heavy loads. Today we travel 8 miles (13 km) from Punta de Vacas to Pampa de Lenas (9186'/2800m): 5-6 hours. Sleep in Pampa de Lenas (9186').
Day 5: On this day we trek the 10 miles (16 km) from Pampa de Lenas to Casa de Piedra (10,500'/3200m): 6-8 hours. Sleep in Casa de Piedra (10,500').
Day 6: Our last leg, we travel the remaining 6 miles (10 km) from Casa de Piedra to Base Camp Plaza Argentina (13,780'/4200m): 6-8 hours. Sleep in BC Plaza Argentina (13,780').
Day 7: Rest day in BC. Sleep in Plaza Argentina (13,780').
Day 8: Acclimatization hike to Ameghino Col (17,500'/5334m). Sleep in BC (13,780').
Day 9: Rest day in BC Plaza Argentina. Sleep in BC (13,780').
Day 10: Carry load to Camp 1. Camp 1 is located behind an old moraine at 16,405'/5000m. Sleep in BC (13780').
Day 11: Rest day in BC Plaza Argentina. Sleep in BC (13,780').
Day 12: Move to Camp 1. Sleep in Camp 1 (16,405').
Day 13: Rest day at Camp 1. Sleep in Camp 1 (16,405').
Day 14: Carry load to Camp 2. Camp 2 is located just below the Polish Glacier at 19,357'/5900m. Sleep in Camp 1 (16,405').
Day 15: Move to Camp 2. Sleep in Camp 2 (19,357').
Day 16: Climb Cerro Aconcagua (1st summit attempt). Polish Traverse route. Climb up to Refugio Independencia (in ruins) at 20,670'/6300m. Keep climbing the North Ridge. From there, traverse to the West face and climb up into the Canaleta, an 800' chute that leads to the summit ridge. Finally, the Guanaco Ridge poses an easy traverse to the north (true) summit. Descend to Camp 2 (19,357') to sleep.
Days 17-18: 2 additional summit attempt days.
Day 19: Descend from Camp 2 to BC Plaza Argentina. Sleep in BC (13,780').
Day 20: Walk the 24 miles from BC Plaza Argentina down to Punta de Vacas trailhead. Shuttle to Hotel Ayelen, in Penitentes. Sleep in Penitentes (8860').
Day 21: Take the 12:00pm bus from Penitentes back to Mendoza. Bus arrives in Mendoza at 4:00pm. Sleep at Hotel Nutibara in Mendoza (2428').
Day 22: Depart Mendoza. LanChile flight #933 leaves from Mendoza at 7:20pm to Santiago, Chile.
Day 23: Arrive in LAX in the morning.