Stories: Aconcagua

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A view of the summit of Aconcagua, the tallest peak in South America.

A Brief History of Aconcagua

Aconcagua, standing at 22,831’/6,959m, is the highest peak in the Americas and one of the Seven Summits. Its history is rich and multifaceted, beginning with the indigenous cultures that inhabited the region long before modern mountaineers arrived. Today, it’s a popular peak forintermediate climbers to break into 7,000m, and an excellent step on the way to preparing for Mt. Everest.

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A view of Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America.

From Climbing Schools to the Seven Summits: Why Aconcagua is the Next Step for Intermediate Climbers

Aconcagua, standing at 22,837 feet, is an excellent progression for climbers who have completed one or more of Alpenglow’s climbing schools in Ecuador, Peru, or Mexico. Here’s why the Aconcagua Rapid Ascent Expedition makes sense:

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The Road to Everest: Climbing Aconcagua

Aconcagua, standing at 6,959 meters (22,831 feet), is the highest peak outside of Asia and a significant challenge for mountaineers. Alpenglow Expeditions offers a Rapid Ascent program via the 360 Route, a comprehensive approach designed for those with ambitions of summiting higher peaks like Mount Everest.

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A group of climbers walks across a tallus field while climbing Aconcagua with the sun rising on the snowy mountains behind them.

You Can Climb Aconcagua

With an altitude of 22,841’/6,962m, Aconcagua is the tallest mountain outside of the Himalayas and the tallest peak in the Americas. Despite its impressive height, it’s often classified as a trekking peak as there are multiple routes that present no technical climbing, making it accessible to many climbers who are well-prepared and, even more so, choose to climb with a guide.

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Climbing Aconcagua: Changes Adrian Ballinger Has Seen Over the Years

Alpenglow owner and founder Adrian Ballinger started guiding and climbing Aconcagua in the late 1990s, around the same time that high-altitude mountaineering saw a massive surge in popularity around the world. However, regulations, ethics, and best practices in the mountaineering world failed to keep pace with the growth of the sport.

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Esteban 'Topo' Mena coiling a rope while guiding a Cotopaxi Expedition with Alpenglow Expeditions.

“Give Yourself the Time”: Graduating from Trekking to Climbing with Topo Mena

While ‘walking’ may sound trivial, a number of big mountains involve a lot of walking, albeit in extreme places. To talk about the journey, we connected with IFMGA-certified Alpenglow guide Esteban ‘Topo’ Mena about graduating from trekking to climbing. For beginners, he had this advice to offer: “At first, it’s important to give yourself the time to walk in the mountains and appreciate the land and the opportunity to just be there.”

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