The Guanacos Valley Route is not technically difficult, although high altitude, cold temperatures and strong winds make these climbs very challenging. Participants must be in excellent physical condition, able to carry a heavy pack, and have basic mountaineering skills. Participants on the Polish Glacier Expedition must have previous high altitude and technical climbing experience since this beautiful route offers steep snow and ice climbing at extreme altitude. This route is a newly discovered, non-technical route, which Aventuras Patagonicas explored in February 97. This is a much less traveled side of Aconcagua with a gradual elevation gain between camps, allowing for easier acclimatization than other routes.
Acclimatization is the key element to summiting the highest peak in the Western hemisphere.
Our excellent success rate has been improved by climbing Aconcagua via the Guanacos Valley. This route offers very few trails, few people, and a true sense of adventure. Our Traverse has been popular among our clients in the last few years. Climbing Aconcagua via a non-technical route and descending the shorter Normal Route you get the whole spectrum of the mountain traveling through three different valleys, the Vacas,Guanacos and Horcones, and passing four different faces of this tremendous peak. After the Summit, we descend the north side to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp.