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Frequently asked questions

Choose the trip and date in the calendar. If the page shows a price, the BOOK NOW button takes you to Argentina Extrema secure checkout (the trip operator), where you choose how to pay. Otherwise, fill in "Request a quote" and we will reply with all the information.

It depends on the program. Each page shows its difficulty grading (backpack, physical, technical, mental and altitude). There are treks and courses for beginners and expeditions that require high-altitude experience. If in doubt, ask us.

Before each trip we hold an info meeting and recommend a training plan for your goal. We also run specific training sessions and courses for trekking and mountaineering.

Yes. Every trip can be organised on special dates for groups, families or companies, as well as destinations not in the calendar.

Bank transfer (40% deposit and up to 3 fixed instalments in pesos or 6 in dollars), cash at our office, credit card and PayPal for payments from abroad. Many trips have an early-booking price.

From the deposit until one month before, 25% is retained; within the last month, 50%; in the last week, 100%. Within the last month you can use half of the retained amount for a future trip. See Terms and conditions.

Ascenso 23 is the mountain brand of Argentina Extrema (AEX S.R.L., EVT Leg. 16396), a licensed agency organising treks, climbs and expeditions since 1997. Bookings and payments are processed at argentinaextrema.com.

How we grade difficulty

Each trek or climb is graded 0–100% on five factors (e.g. M3-F4-T2-P3-A3):

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)

Physical demand is the aerobic strain (climbs = possible shortness of breath), muscular strain (endurance = many hours walking) and stress on 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. Most multi-day treks. Sierra de la Ventana, Córdoba, Patagonia, Cuyo, the North and 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.

Graded Difficulty System for Adventure Activities designed by Leandro Scheurle. Copyright Argentinaextrema.com ©2009. All rights reserved.

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