Equipment & gear list to climb mount aconcagua

Logistic Services in Aconcagua

The temperatures registered during the climbing season suffer from many thermal variations that make the climber to be always aware.  

You have to consider that during the nights even in good weather conditions and above 5000 mts -20° temperatures can be common. -30° Temperatures can be register on the summit of Aconcagua. In Plaza de Mulas, -18 ° C can be registered during bad weather conditions or in presence of big air masses coming from the south. However -25° at high camps are not odd. 

The required equipment list on this file is the basic gear to start this experience and it is quite important to increase chances to summit Aconcagua.  

Besides, you must have good quality equipment to avoid injuries,illness and even more, it can save your life. 

You are the responsible to bring the appropriate equipment and clothes. The guides will only checked the gear and assist you before starting the expedition. 

If something is missing, the guides will accompany you to the rental shops so you can be sure you’ll have everything you need. 

Remember the guides are the main authority in our guided expedition. They can decide your permanence in the expedition if they realized that you equipment it doesn’t fulfill the needed standards.

 
Clothes

Clothes

  • 2 sinthetic/thermic t-shirts
  • 2 expedition Long Underwear, tops and bottoms. Polypropylene or Capilene, cotton blends are not acceptable.
  • 2 Fleece Jacket: Power strech and Primalof.
  • 2 Fleece Trousers: Light-weight pile. Could be an extra mid long underwear bottom. We suggested one primalof and other waterproof.
  • 1 Parka: Down parka with good hood. Expedition type; needs to fit over all insulation layers.
  • Expedition Jacket: Waterproof/ breathable. Good storm-proof mountain jacket with attached hood. We suggested: Gore-Tex.
  • Wind Expedition Pants: Waterproof/ breathable. We suggest: Gore-Tex. Full separating side zips required to allow for easy accessibility and effective ventilation.
 Hands

Hands

  • First Layer Gloves: 2 pair light weight, pile or polypropylene.
  • Fleece and Waterproof Gloves: 1 pair for cold weather
  • Duvet Mittens: 1 pair.
  • Gore-Tex’s over mitts: Recommend "tough-tek" shell palms for better grip. Suggested: Outdoor Research Alti Mitts.Could be down or synthetic big mittens for extremely low temperatures.
  • Hand warmers: for summit push (no direct contact with skin)
Head Gear

Head Gear

  • Sun hat: with good visor and white bandana for protecting neck.
  • Climbing Helmet. Certified.
  • Wool or pile ski hat.(Keep in mind that you must wear a helmet on it.)
  • Head lamp (LED). We suggest 800 lumens: Petzl / Black Diamond
  • Glacier glasses: Must have side covers. If you wear contacts or glasses, we recommend packing a spare pair of glasses; as well extra mountain sunglasses. We suggested: Category 4 or more (Julbo or Bolle).
  • Goggles: High mountain (Not Ski) We recommend it for snow storms.
  • Buff or similar.
Climbing Equipment

Climbing Equipment

  • Mountaineering Axe: General mountaineering tool (Not Technical Ice tool).
  • Crampons: Step-in bindings. We suggested: Charlet Moser Super 12 or Griven Air Tech (With protection bag). No Footfangs or Simond Scorpions or Grivel Rambo (because these are for technical icefall climbing)
  • Climbing Harness, 60cm Sling and two (2) Locking Carabiner. To use in case the guide requires it in places where it is necessary to reinforce security.
  • Trekking poles: 1 pair collapsible. Not for mountain running.
General equipment

General equipment

  • Backpack: Internal frame pack for at least 80lts. You must have ice axe haul loops
  • Daypack 45 lts. Optional but highly recommended. (No Quechua or Simmond)
  • Sleeping bag: Expedition quality. 1 kg. of down preferred. (0 to 20 F or -18 to -30 C°)
  • Ridge Rest sleeping pad. 1 full length foam.
  • Therma rest pad: 1 3/4 length with repair kit. Optional. We suggested reflective.
  • Dish, bowl, glass, knife, spoon and fork: Unbreakable set for high camps. (Suggested Plastic or else titanium)
  • Pocketknife: Swiss Army knife.
  • Water bottles: 1 one-liter wide-mouth water bottle, 1 one-liter stainless steel thermos.
  • Pee bottle: 1litre wide mouth water bottle. We recommend: Nalgene.
  • Pee Funnel (for women). Suggested: Freshets.
  • Sun screen: SPF 50 minimum.
  • Lip screen: SPF 50, at least 2 sticks.
  • Personal first aid kit. Simple and light. (Compeed, analgesic, disinfectant)
Foot wear

Foot wear

  • Mountain boots. Sinthetic boots suggested (less weight) Ex: La Sportiva Boulder X Mid, Scarpa, Millet, Bestard (NOT The North Face)
  • Climbing Boots:Double or triple plastic boots. With removable liner.It is very important have a warm and good boots able to fix crampons. We suggested: Scarpa phantom 8000, La Sportiva G2.
  • Lightweight Hiking Shoes for rest days at base camps. Ex: Salomon RX Slide 3.0 or similar.
  • Gaiters: Gore-Tex + Cordura. We suggested: Outdoor Research Crocodiles.
  • Wool socks. (3 pair) Cold weather socks. Expedition-weight wool or woolen blend.
  • Liner socks. 2 pair of smooth wool, nylon or polypropylene to be worn next to the skin. This reduces the incidence of blisters and hot-spots.
  • Sandals (During Aconcagua 360º Route you will be crossing shallow portions of streams, for which you can wear trekking shoes or sandals).
TRAVELLING

TRAVELLING

  • Large duffel bag with lock (120). For transporting gear by freight mules. Should be large enough to hold your fully packed internal frame pack inside as well as other equipment.
  • Smaller duffel with lock. (To store excess gear at Inka’s deposit in Penitentes.)
  • Plastic bags. To line stuff sacks to keep gear dry.
  • Travel clothes and extra clothes to use in a warm Mendoza
  • Toiletry bag.
  • Camera gear. Optional.