Proposal

Dates on request for groups - minimum 4 people.

The mountains everyone sees from the distance...

The Cordón del Plata is the high mountain "school" for the people of Mendoza in particular and for the Argentines in general. At a very short distance (80 km) from Mendoza, Argentina, we have in those mountains one of the few "alpine" landscapes in the country; Where altitude, really big mountains, ice and verticality are combined. It is a midpoint between the great distances and desert smoothness of the high mountains of the Northwest and the concentrated and upright granite masses of Patagonia. Much could be written about geological, historical or romantic aspects of these beautiful mountains, where so many mountaineers of different generations have lots of memories, dreams and first achievements. But let's get to the point from the Andean point of view. Visible in part from the city of Mendoza and even better from the towns to the east and the Uco Valley, from Guaymallén to San Carlos, the people of Mendoza ignore its secrets and many confuse its white moles with Aconcagua or Tupungato. The Cordón del Plata does not belong to the Cordillera del Limit or Cordillera Principal, where the Aconcagua is, nor to the old Precordillera, but is between both, constituting together with the Cordillera del Tigre the so-called Cordillera Frontal. It is geologically the newest, and for this reason its mountains are the most slender in the Central Andes.

Our program invites you to meet them and captivate yourself with their great shadows, trying to reach several of their precious peaks.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Meeting in Mendoza. Last minute purchases. Transfer by charter vehicle to Vallecitos (2,850 m.a.s.l.), about 80 km from the city. In Vallecitos we will settle in a typical mountain refuge where we will spend a few nights. Lunch. In the afternoon: short acclimatization walk in the area. Overnight in shelter.

Day 2: Breakfast. This day will be dedicated to the ascent of 4 of the hills belonging to the small mountain range called "La Cadenita". The hills are: Lomas Blancas (3,850), Student (3,900), Caucasus (4,050) and Iluso (4,150). From the top of them you can get an amazing view of the entire region. March lunch. In the afternoon I return to the shelter. Dinner and team preparation for the next day. Overnight in shelter.

Day 3: Early breakfast. The idea of ??the day will be to carry equipment to the Veguitas Superior camp (3400 masl). Overnight at Veguitas Superior camp. Acclimatization

Day 4: Breakfast. Possible portage to El Salto and return to the Veguitas Superior camp. Hydration, rest and overnight in tent.

Day 5: Ascent to El Salto camp (4200 masl). acclimatization, hydration Rest. Overnight in tent.

Day 6: Day of acclimatization to altitude. Short walks in the area. Good nutrition and hydration. Team preparation to attempt summit. Overnight in tent.

Day 7: Attempt to summit the Rincón hill or failing that (for climatic, group or other reasons) Lomas Amarillas or Vallecitos. We left very early, a very exhausting day. Return in the afternoon to El Salto camp. There is the possibility of setting up camp and descending to the shelters at the base of Vallecitos. Rest.

Day 8: Descent to the base of Vallecitos and lunch + shower. Transfer to the city of Mendoza. End of the expedition. Recommended: spend the night in Mendoza again.

Note

Program with a high degree of demand in the ascents. The height plays its important role, good previous hydration is needed.

Program subject to weather conditions. Modifications to it may occur on the fly depending on circumstances and various factors. The decisions will be made exclusively by the guides and coordinators

Included Services

Transfers to and from the city of Mendoza.

All meals in the mountains (breakfast, energy-snacks, lunches, snacks, dinners).

2 Overnights in refuge

Tents.

Portage with mules to Camp El Salto if possible.

General camping service.

Professional mountain guides.

Satellite Monitoring.

Satellite phone for emergencies.

Previous informative meetings.

Personal accident insurance.

Permanent assistance.

Services NOT included

Personal technical equipment.

Trip to Mendoza (flight tickets)

Tips.

Photo and Video Gallery

Albums

Plata Mount, Ascent to the summit.

Ascent to the highest peak of the Cordon del Plata, 6000 m.a.s.l.

Ascent to Cerro Plata 6000 masl - Mendoza

The great ascent to the most desired mountain of the Cordón del Plata

March lunches (cold meals): Milanese and tomato sandwiches, cold cut sandwiches, appetizers, salads, tapas, etc.
Dinners: Vegetable-bacon-red chorizo stews, Chicken and vegetable casseroles, Pasta with various sauces or stew, Roast meat (Chivito), Chaw Fan, Chicken with rice in a saucepan....
Breakfasts and snacks: Tea, Coffee, Cappuccino, Mate Cocido, Mate, Milk powder; bread, cookies, jam, honey, dulce de leche; cereals, fruit

It is necessary to complete the personal/medical record to clarify if someone does not eat any type of food.

Where do you sleep

Night 1 and 2 in mountain refuges in shared rooms, the rest of the nights in tents in mountain camps without services.

Faq

Is it a climb with difficulty?

It does not have technical difficulty but it does have physical difficulty with height. It is advisable to have some previous experience in trekking and climbing minor mountains.

Do I need to be trained?

Yes. For any mountain activity it is necessary to have previous physical preparation, or to be physically active, but in this case it is advisable to go deeper into the training.

Do I need to have previous experience?

It is advisable to have some previous experience in trekking and climbing minor mountains. On the day of the summit, almost 1800 meters of unevenness are completed in ascent and descent.

Where do you spend the night?

The overnight stay takes place in a mountain refuge, with mattresses, and then in tents. It is necessary to bring a warm mountain sleeping bag.

What is the weather or temperature?

Although the time of year is spring-summer, in Andean and/or wild areas, temperatures tend to drop at night and very early. At the high altitude camp, at 4,200 meters above sea level, temperatures can reach -10°.

Are there rest stops?

The stops are given with a frequency and graduation according to the intensity.

There are stops for lunch, snacks, and rest, not on the day of the summit, where meals are well underway, trying to meet the objective.

How much does the backpack weigh?

In this trekking in the first 3 days we move with little weight, the ascents are round trip in the day. Then we must continue with the expedition backpack, reaching up to 15 kg in women and 20 kg in men approximately.

Difficulty graduation

Mochila: Peso / Duración de la Jornada.

Exigencia Física

Técnico: Dificultad en el Terreno / Equipo.

Fortaleza Psicológica

Exposición a la Altura

Backpack (M)

This point has to do with the weight that we must carry in our backpacks. Trekkings or crossings where we have pack animals allow us to bear less weight on our backs. And the multi-day journeys in Patagonia (without the option of having pack mules) generally make us carry more weight, especially in the early days.

20% Up to 5 Kilos: Short excursion walks / Trekking Talampaya

40% Up to 8/10 Kilos: Round-trip trekking / Vallecitos 3 and 4-day programs

60% Up to 12/15 kilos: Crossing trekking with porting / Crossing of the Andes Paso Portillo

80% More than 15/18 kilos: Cross-country trekkings with little or no portage / Trekkings in Patagonia (Paso Vuriloche, PN Lanin or Nahuel Huapi, etc)

100% More than 25 Kilos: With a lot of equipment on top and little or no porting / Continental Ice

Fitness (F)

We consider physical demands to the wear that we can suffer both aerobic (climbs = possible shortness of breath) and muscle (resistance = many hours walking) and of legs and joints (descents = knees / ankles).

20% half a day or less with little unevenness.

40% more sustained slopes and longer days in the activity. 2-3 days / more than 6 hours per day.

60% Long ascents and descents with a longer duration. Ascents to more than 4000 meters in the central mountain range / intense 4-day trekking (Uruguayan plane)

80% Important work of legs in resistance. Very long days. Very long day ascents (Lanin - Domuyo) or more than 5000 meters. Ice courses.

100% Maximum demand. Aerobic work and constant effort on legs. Continental Ice, Aconcagua, mountains of more than 6000 meters.

Technical (T)

The technical difficulty is mainly based on the terrain. How much can it cost us to climb a slope, if it is very steep or if we have to use our hands in some section (simple climbing), both in rock and snow-ice, or materials such as crampons and pegs in other ascents.

20% flat land

40% trails with moderate ups and downs. General crossing trekkings . Sierra de la Ventana, Córdoba, Patagonia, Cuyo, north, others. Classic ascents

60% Steeper slopes and trails. Possible use of crampons. Domuyo, Cordón del Plata, Cordillera Central.

80% Mixed terrain, with snow or ice. Alvear, Lanin, Tronador. Bolivia, Peru.

100% Highly technical terrain. Glacial transit and climbing in sections. Hill climbing with sections on slopes of more than 60 ° inclination

Psycho (P)

We maintain that this point, the psychological factor, represents a relevant factor. Each one needs a factor of conviction, confidence, self-control and will power to achieve a goal. And depending on the attitude with which we face distances, slopes, terrain and many other objective factors, we can achieve performance with very different results.

20% We will not be much affected.

40% This is a normal level of attention.

60% We require more motivation, enthusiasm and concentration.

80% The activity will require us to be very connected and convinced.

100% Maximum control and emotional-psychological performance.

Adventures (A)

It is the factor that, the height above sea level, influences us depending on the activity we carry out. Managing and overcoming symptoms caused by altitude is the key to this point

0% + sea level.

20% Up to 2000 masl.

40% + 2000 masl.

60% + 4000 masl.

80% + 5000 masl.

100% + 6000 masl.

Required equipment

GENERAL EQUIPMENT

Special backpack for trekking (60 to 80 litres).
Warm sleeping bag (-10 degrees comfort, eg 800/1000 gms. of feather-duvet or good synthetic).
Insulating mat (10 to 15mm).
Inflatable insulating mattress (optional).
Pair of trekking sticks.

FOOTWEAR

1 Mountain boots for hills of 5000 meters (not necessarily double).
1 extra trekking shoes.

FIRST LAYER (First skin)

Changes of underwear.
Cotton shirts (to be in the camp and to sleep).
T-shirts and/or short-sleeved synthetic t-shirts.
Long-sleeved synthetic shirt.
Polypropylene pants or leggings or similar (not cotton). To use as warm inner pants.
Thin polypropylene gloves or similar (not cotton).
pairs of thin polypropylene or similar socks (not cotton), in contact with the skin.
Buff type multifunction scarf.

SECOND LAYER (Coat)

Trekking pairs of socks (synthetic-thermal).
Pairs of thick mountain socks.
Some cotton or wool stockings (wool is good for sleeping).
1 long trekking pants.
2 coats (polar type, softshell or similar).
Feather-duvet jacket.
Polar fleece gloves
Warm hat (polar).

THIRD LAYER (windproof and waterproof)

Waterproof jacket (ultrex or gore tex or similar).
Trouser cover (gore tex or similar or ski type).
Third layer gloves or mittens (waterproof and breathable). They can be ski type.
Mountain leggings.

TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT