Polish Glacier Traverse Route - 6962m
Private Expedition to Mount Aconcagua

An alternative and beautiful path. Aconcagua will express its most rustic side, as an adventurous spirit will enlighten the trail with every step. Crossing the mythic base of the Polish Glacier, in the last stretch we will approach and then follow the common trail.
This special trail, for special people.

Why a Private Expedition?
The main characteristics of this type of expedition is that you choose the date of departure and you share it only with your fellow climbers. Most of the services are included and you have your own guide, which is very important as he will provide you with vital information, security and ensure a harmonized rhythm in your climb.

Difficulties
Technical difficulty: This route does not present any technical difficulty. Even though in this expedition you take some part of the Polish Glacier, you do not require a previous climbing experience on rocks or ice.
Physical difficulty: As in the Normal or Northeast route the process of acclimatization is really important in order to succeed in getting the summit. As this is a factor on any of our expeditions, the only pre requirement would be to follow a program of training that is adapted to the activity that you are going to make. The rest of the program is planned in order to make you enjoy and know one of the most beautiful traverse in the Aconcagua mountain.
Other types of difficulties: The biggest problem that you may face on your expedition are the effects of the altitude on your body. These can be overcome with a previous and correct acclimatization, which is a factor on any of our programs. Another difficulty are the low temperatures on the mountain, the effects of which are reduced with a high-quality clothing and equipment.

The most important
Changing your modern lifestyle for an adventure, requires imagination and energy. Being mentally prepared to accept the difficulties and inconveniences will be the key to your success.

The Best of the Expedition
A program that gives you the opportunities to succeed.
The chance to know the Aconcagua mountain taking a wonderful and less passable route.
The Aconcagua Mountain is the highest mountain in America and is part of The 7 Summits Circuit. This consists of climbing the highest mountains of each continent.
An excellent opportunity to test yourself at an altitude of up to 23,000 feet, which is a great stepping stone for climbing the Himalaya mountains of 26,000 feet.

Program (Height in feet)
Day 1: Mendoza (2,508)
Drive airport / Hotel in Mendoza. Lodging. In the evening there will be an instructive talk about the Aconcagua Mountain followed by some pictures of the mountain. (Food is not included)
Day 2: Mendoza / Puente del Inca (8,992)
Obtaining of permits. Transfer to Puente Del Inca. Lunch. Lodging in hostel. Preparation of the loads for the mules. Dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Puente del Inca / Pampa de Leñas (10,230)
Drive to Quebrada de Vacas. Beginning of the trekking to Pampa de Leñas. Camp. Dinner. (B, L.P, D)
Day 4: Pampa de Leñas / Casa de Piedra (11,880)
Trek to Casa de Piedra. (B, P.L., D)
Day 5: Casa de Piedra / Plaza Argentina Base Camp (13,200)
Trek to Plaza Argentina base camp. Camp. Dinner. (B, P.L., D)
Day 6: Plaza Argentina Base Camp (13,200)
Resting day in Plaza Argentina base camp. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Plaza Argentina / Camp 1(16,335) / Plaza Argentina.
Transportation of the material to Camp 1 and return to Plaza Argentina. (B, P.L., D)
Day 8: Plaza Argentina Base Camp (13,200)
Resting day in Plaza Argentina. (B, L, D)
Day 9: Plaza Argentina / Camp 1 (16,335)
Climb to Camp 1. Camp. Dinner. (B, P.L., D)
Day 10: Camp 1 / Camp 2 (19,140) / Camp 1
Transportation of material to Camp 2 and come back to Camp 1. (B, P.L., D)
Day 11: Camp 1 (16,335)
Resting day in Camp 1. (B, L, D)
Day 12: Camp 1 / Camp 2 (19,140)
Climb to Camp 2. Camp. Dinner. (B, P.L., D)
Day 13: Camp 2 / Summit (22,974) / Camp 2
Climbing day to the summit by making a traverse to the Normal Route and returning to Camp 2. (B, P.L., D)
Day 14: Camp 2 / Plaza Argentina.
Descent from Camp 2 to base camp. Dinner. (B, P.L., D)
Day 15: Plaza Argentina / Pampa de Leñas.
Descent from Base camp to Pampa de Leñas. Camp. Dinner (B, P.L., D)
Day 16: Pampa de Leñas / Mendoza
Descent from Pampa de Leñas to Quebrada de Vacas. Transfer to Mendoza. Farewell dinner.
(B, P.L., D)
Day 17: Transfer to the Airport
Drive to the airport. End of the services. (B)
Day 18: Extra day for contingencies that prevent the normal development of the program.
Day 19: Extra day for contingencies that prevent the normal development of the program.

Note
The above itinerary is intended as a guideline only. Although every effort will be made to adhere to it, changes may be caused due to weather conditions, transport failure or other unforeseen events. Please be flexible if necessary.


INCLUDED SERVICES IN THE EXPEDITION

- Transfer airport / hotel / airport
One of us will be waiting for you at the airport to drive you to the hotel, allowing you the possibility to enjoy your trip fully. And after the expedition, we will take you back to the airport.

- Hotel in Mendoza
We have chosen a four star hotel for you to stay in, during two nights, both when arriving to Mendoza and when returning from the mountain. The rooms are double and the breakfast and taxes are included in the price.
If you prefer a single room, please do not forget to let us know.

- Assistance to buy the climbing permits
Mount Aconcagua is located in a provincial Park, managed by the Provincial Government of Mendoza.
To get into the Park you should get a permit, in accordance to the activity that you are going to participate in (climbing, long trek, short trek). This working paper must be done personally, as a government rule. That is why each passenger should go to the Park’s office with their own passport.

- Luggage care
If you wish to leave certain personal belongings that you will not need during the days of the expedition, you can do so at our office in Mendoza City, our Hostel in Puente Del Inca, or our own camp in Plaza de Mulas. We guarantee maximum security.

- Transfer Mendoza / Puente del Inca/ Mendoza
We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Puente Del Inca in our own vehicles. We will drive over 180 kilometers, which separate Mendoza City from Puente Del Inca. The scenery on the journey is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the central Andes.

- Meals
On the expedition you will enjoy all the meals (B:breakfast / L:lunch / P.L.:packed lunch if we are on the move / D:dinner) that are carefully planned by professionals to have a balanced diet during those days on the mountain.
Our cooks always prepare every meal, with fixed menu from day nº 3, except at the high altitude camps where our guides will be in charge of the cooking.
If you are vegetarian, let us know.

- Farewell dinner
At the end of the expedition, the whole group will share a dinner in one of the best restaurants in Mendoza in order to celebrate the new friendships.

- Lodging in Puente del Inca
During the Inca Empire this spot was a strategic point for the crossing of the Andes mountain.
Over the last years it has become the point of departure of every expedition, whose aim is to get the summit of Aconcagua. The Hostel of Puente Del Inca was built here and it is the only lodging in this strategic zone, five kilometers far from the Aconcagua Park trailhead.
For the people working in Aconcagua Expeditions Tourism, there is a great satisfaction to be the ones responsible for the running of this hostel, offering the best services to mountaineers.
You will spend two nights in this beautiful place (one at the beginning of your expedition and the other one in the return) in rooms for three to six people (according to the number of members in the group) with a private toilet.
Complete breakfasts and unforgettable dinners in the restaurant of the hostel are also included.

- Assistance for the arrangements of loads to be transported by mules
Our mountain guides will advise you on when you have to decide what to include in your luggage and the way that we are going to arrange it on the mules.

- Load mules
These strong animals were the ones that helped the armies that fought for the freedom of South America, to transport their belongings over the mountains.
Mules move over mountain with great caution, having the possibility to carry big loads. Aconcagua Expeditions owns with more than 100 mules. The negative aspect of these animals is their untamed character. That is why we have selected a professional team of muleteers, called arrieros, who have dedicated their lives to the country animals. They know how to deal with these animals, because of their experience.
From Puente Del Inca to Plaza Argentina, making two stops in Pampa de Leñas and Casa de Piedras camps and in the return, your belongings will be carried by mules. Each mule can carry up to a limit of 60 kg, and every client may transport on the mules a maximum of 30 kg on each stage of the approach. We strongly recommend you to bring a strong duffel bag.

- Transfer to the entrance of the Aconcagua Park
You will be driven by the Arrieros’ pick-up over 7 kilometers, from our hostel in Puente del Inca to Quebrada de Vacas, in order to start with the trek.

- Camp in Pampa de Leñas and Casa de Piedra:
While you are gaining height, your body needs some time to start with the process of acclimatization. Therefore, it is extremely important to stop for a night in Pampa de Leñas and the following day continue with the trek to Casa de Piedras.
In every stop you will meet the Arrieros, who will give you your gear to spend the night. The guides will help you in the setting of the tents, and will prepare the dinner and breakfast.

- Base camp in Plaza Argentina
Once you have arrived at Plaza Argentina, you will spend the night in our own campsite, fully prepared to make the trip around the magnificent South American mountain, as comfortable as possible. With tents for eating, another for the kitchen, a third tent for equipment storage, and toilets. Here you will spend 5 nights and excellent workers, who will prepare delicious meals and provide an excellent service, will attend you.

- Our guides (See more information about them)
Our mountain guides are qualified professionals of the AAGM (Argentinean Association of Mountain Guides) and the EPGAMT (Provincial School of High Mountain and Trekking Guides). The last qualification takes 2 years long. We believe that to success in our expeditions, professionals with experience and the ability to offer security should guide our teams.
The expeditions is lead by a mountain guide and an assistant for every 3 or 4 clients. Their equipment includes: VHF radio, a first-aid kit, complete with the appropriate drugs for altitude sickness, ropes, an altimeter, a digital meter-meter, and professional clothing and equipment. All these will provide security and comfort.

- Tents
Normally, during the summer high-season, Aconcagua is a mountain with good weather conditions. Yet if you happen to have a few days of storms, you will be responsive to nature’s whims at high altitudes. Therefore, we will be sure to provide you with the highest quality tents at these high altitude campsites. We have used The North Face and Marmot brands, which have proved to work well for our clients over the years. Usually two climbers will sleep in each tent, but if our guide considers it necessary, a maximum of three climbers may sleep in one tent.

- Extra days
Our expeditions include two extra days in case of contingencies that may prevent the normal development of the itinerary.
Aconcagua Expeditions takes the responsibility to develop the program as it has been described. However, sometimes the conditions are out of our control, and our guides reserve the right to modify the schedule in response to the circumstances and safety of the group. If this situation arises, the client will not receive any sort of severance pay.

- Communication
You will see that we keep track of where we are at specific sites along the way. We take advantage of the VHF and BLU radio lines that help us maintain contact between the high-altitude campsites, Plaza Argentina, Puente del Inca and Mendoza. Therefore, we can respond almost instantaneously, to whatever issue that may arise.


NOT INCLUDED SERVICES

- Climbing permit
The only way to enter the Aconcagua Park is by getting the permit personally in Mendoza city. If the ticket is not used within the dates established by the Park authorities, the money will not be returned. The ticket will be invalid in the future years.
The entrance fee’s payment support the maintenance and care of Aconcagua Provincial Park and aid to preserve and protect it. It also supports the maintenance of the medical, the park rangers and the rescue service (helicopter)
Drinks and other personal costs in Mendoza and Puente del Inca
Those extra expenses as food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary should be paid by you, not being included.
In the same way, neither the food and drinks in Mendoza nor the drinks in Puente del Inca are included, so should be paid as extra services.

- Expenses for giving up the expedition
In order to have better but cheaper services, the expedition is quoted taking into account the whole group. In any case that you give up the scheduled itinerary because of personal problems, mountain sickness, etc, you start taking private services. The extra expenses that you will pay if necessary are: mules from Plaza Argentina to Puente del Inca (around U$D 200), the transfer from Puente del Inca to Mendoza city, etc. Once you give up the itinerary, the transfer in a regular bus is included but if you decide to take a private van, you should pay U$D 100.
The night in Mendoza hotel when you return can be taken as soon as you get to Mendoza, but if you need to stay more nights, they should be paid in Aconcagua Expeditions agency.

- Sleeping bag and personal equipment
Not only the technical but also the mountain equipment are not included services so you would have to buy it or rent any equipment. Take into account our guides if you need assistance.

- Personal Insurance
Having a personal insurance is not a fundamental requirement to climb the Aconcagua mountain. However, we suggest that you to contact an insurance company if you wish to get one taking into account the risk in the mountain.

- Porters for personal equipment
The porters may help you to transport your belongings from a camp to another one offering you a better result on the mountain. So do not hesitate in letting us know, if you decide to take one. The price will depend on the stretch that your equipment will be carried.

Reserves
To confirm the reservations Aconcagua Expeditions asks for the 30 percent of the total amount, that can be sent through banking transfer (ask for account information) or through internet by PayPal - www.paypal.com. To ensure the security of your information, all credit cards and electronic transfers are handled by PayPal.
The balance must be paid in Mendoza, before starting the expedition.

Reserve now! at www.aconcaguaexpeditions.com/reservations

Cancellations
the cancellation of any reservation must be made in writing without exception. Under no circumstances will the deposit be refunded, instead the CLIENT will assume a credit in his/her favor equivalent to the amount paid to be used towards different services offered by Aconcagua Expeditions.com in season and for the lapse of two years.