Arrive at Mendoza in the stunning Cuyo desert region. Meet the folks you’ll spend the following three weeks with, get rested, and prepare for the climb ahead.
On day 2, obtain your government climbing permit, which is mandatory for climbing in the Andes. Drive to Penitentes, a town at the entrance to the valleys leading into the Aconcagua route.
Enter the park at Punta de Vacas or “Cow’s Point”, a picturesque hamlet in the Mendoza Province. and trek to Pampa de Lenas, the first section of the trail leading to Aconcagua’s backside.
Sunny Stroeer is THE reason I summited Aconcagua on this expedition. She’s an excellent communicator, a thorough planner, rarely lets any minor detail slip through the cracks, and is attentive to everyone’s experiences on the mountain. Whether she’s hugging a fellow guide or describing past rockfalls and lessons learned on previous climbs, her expansive expertise and understanding of Aconcagua shines through at every moment. For anyone who wants to summit the biggest mountain of your life, I couldn’t recommend Sunny and AWExpeditions more.