We are a locally own company with Headquarters in Mendoza , and offices in Ellensburg , WA . With an extense experience in the Central Andes , we were born and rise in this territory, climbing in summers and skiing in winters. Therefore, the Andes are literally our "backyard playground". Our mountain related careers took us around the world both in winter and summer activities, we all went trough Guide School and some of us have Ski Instructor, Park Ranger or Mountain Rescue backgrounds or international certifications. Even our office staff has Aconcagua experience and deep knowledge on mountain activities.
Aconcagua is the company's main hub of activity on the summer season, but we also organize expeditions to other peaks like Ojos del Salado (22.572 ft.), Pissis (22.241 ft.) and Mercedario (22.211 ft.).
Being a local have its advantages, like the ability to place staff in any point of the itinerary, from the airport to Mendoza City , Penitentes and our very own sophisticated Base Camps. Another aspect is while foreign companies have to contract services to local outfitters, we own every link in the services and logistics chain except the Hotel in Mendoza and Penitentes: Minibus, Mules, Base Camps, Altitude Camps, Communication link, etc. This translates in lower costs, better quality control, attention to details, and great flexibility.
We see season after season, how foreign companies bang their heads against the language barrier and have trouble dealing and understanding a different culture, therefore unable to solve minor logistical problems at airports, hotels, transportation, mule scheduling, itinerary changes, rescues, etc.
Even being local, our level of service and quality of expeditions is well above international standards, something that makes us very proud!
2. We have the best Base Camps in the mountain:
Confluencia BC : We are the only company with state-of-the-art Geodesic Domes with real beds, carpeted floors, heating system, hot shower, and a toilet seat bathroom (not latrines like everybody else). This camp also has a sophisticated Solar energy system that powers our lights, communications, and battery chargers.
Our meals are prepared following strict standards of hygiene and contain high nutritional value. They assure the right amount of carbohydrates and protein, everything the body needs to perform at high altitude, yet easy to digest. We also cater to vegetarians upon request.
No other company has this kind of service infrastructure; we believe that making our camps more comfortable helps a big deal on the acclimatizing process.
The Royal Treatment ä : You are the king of the mountain! New for the 2004-2005 season, this special service includes a single bed in a bedroom tent, carpeted floors, exclusive dinning dome, silverware, crystal ware, gourmet meals and the best wines from Familia Zuccardi Winery (only available at Confluencia BC).
Plaza de Mulas BC: This is the Camp were the expeditions spend more days, and a very important communication link between the high camps and Mendoza Headquarters. State-of the-art dinning tents, superb kitchen, Storage tent, and other amenities. It's Solar Powered and has a private bathroom.
Plaza Argentina BC: Our most remote BC, 3 days away from the nearest road. This is still a conventional operation, with high altitude tents, Mess hall with tables, chairs, excellent kitchen and lots of TLC from our Camp Master .
3. Fully Certified Guides and Assistants:
All our guides are fully certified and have an impressive experience on this mountain, and also have climbed internationally. They are masters on high altitude matters. The needs and demands of the clients are tended with warmth, and on the other hand they have the experience and leadership to deal with unexpected situations, besides being fluent both in English and Spanish.
4. The smallest Guide-Client Ratio:
We like to work with a small guide to client ratio, which is 3 clients per guide . This is a key factor for the expedition success, allowing us to split the group in smaller teams, according to strength, speed and rhythm. Super important on summit day, by having all teams lead by a guide, everybody has the chance to get to the top at their own pace. In the case that somebody has to return to camp, the rest of the expeditioneers chances of summiting are not compromised.
Most companies and guide services out there offer a 4-1 ratio and Other are even greater, compromising safety and reducing the summit chances for the whole group.
5. Proven and Flexible Acclimatizing Program:
As you ascend, your body acclimatizes to the decreasing oxygen (hypoxia). At any moment, there is an "ideal" altitude where your body is in balance; most likely this is the last elevation at which you slept. Extending above this is an indefinite gray zone where your body can tolerate the lower oxygen levels, but to which you are not quite acclimatized. If you get above the upper limit of this zone, there is not enough oxygen for your body to function properly, and symptoms of hypoxic distress occur - this is AMS. Go too high above what you are prepared for, and you get sick. This "zone of tolerance" moves up with you as you acclimatize. Each day, as you ascend, you are acclimatizing to a higher elevation, and thus your zone of tolerance extends that much higher up the mountain. The trick is to limit your daily upward travel to stay within that tolerance zone
The acclimatization process is a must in our expedition procedures. To ensure this, our guides perform oxymetry readings to measure accurate blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate at breakfast and dinner time during the expedition and keep a daily log for each individual. This allows us to monitor the adapting process and provides an early forecast for AMS.
6. Safety is our number one priority:
We make safety our number one priority, by investing a big deal in safety related gear and by following the commandments above:
• Carefully picked and trained staff.
• Equipment in excellent shape.
• Emergency and Contingency plans.
• All guides go through a Mountain Rescue Helicopter Course, so are able to direct safe air lifts from the mountainside. This course is given by the Air Force.
• Communication link between Mendoza, all BC´S, Guides, Rescue Patrol and Park Rangers.
• Back Up staff at BC.
• A proven acclimatization program.
• We respect turn around time policy on summit day.
• Guides are provided with ropes and other pertinent gear to secure the group or individual for descents with poor visibility or fatigue situations.
• Oxygen canisters at C2.
• Gamow Bag at BC.
• Digital Oxymeters.
• Permanent communication with doctors at BC.
• Full Mountain first aid kits.
7. Reasonable Prices:
We believe to have the most reasonable prices on the market, according to the quality of service you are receiving. Most foreigner companies charge as much as twice for less services. The reason is that they contract services from companies like ours, pay big bucks for liability insurance; spend on moving gear from their country of origin and other extra costs that you don't have to pay.
8. The best altitude camps:
We use brand new North Face VE-25 Expedition tents for our altitude camps, MSR Fuel stoves and other high quality equipment.
Also, we have waterproof storage bins in each camp location. At the beginning of the season, we carry all the camp loads and store all the necessary camp items in those bins. This makes the guides life easier and provides a very fast, reliable camp set up system when the group reaches the campsite. This technique is very useful, especially in a fatigue situation or bad weather, were we have extra food and fuel resources in case the group gets pinned up high in the mountain due to bad weather or high winds. Most of the companies, especially foreigner ones, do not have this ability.
We are one of the very few companies having a toilet tent with WC in all the altitude camps, so you don't have to expose your rear-end to the Condors!!! This feature makes a great difference in comfort and privacy for our expedition members, but also provides environmental care, because by the Aconcagua park new regulations for the 2004 season, human waste should be descended from the altitude camps. Thus it is very important to ask companies if this service is offered. No altitude latrines are permitted. We have designed special containers to take care of and bring down the waste.
9. Flexibility in the itineraries:
Xperience Aconcagua plans sufficient weather and acclimatization days for the Aconcagua climb. In the best of the situations, providing that weather is superb and everyone acclimatizes well, we may be ahead of schedule. On the other hand, we may need to use every day of the trip due to weather, acclimatization etc.
All these factors require flexibility when ordering the mules to get the gear down from BC, warning Base Camp to order meals and accommodation for the descending group, reserve lodging at Penitentes and calling the van up to pick up the group at the Park's trail head. Our Guides do all that from C3.
We often see groups that finish their climb ahead of schedule and have to wait days at BC because they have ordered the mules on a fixed date.
10. Communications:
All BC´S are linked by BLU communications and VHF to communicate with the guides, Park Rangers, Doctors, Rescue Patrol and Muleteers.
Mendoza communicates with the Base Camps via BLU and all the vehicles are equipped with VHF radios and cell phones. We are able to create a link from headquarters to any moving group in the mountain and monitor their progress, pass weather reports and gather first hand information that is posted in our web page so your friends and relatives can see how are you doing and retrieve messages from you.
11. Environmentally Sound:
Our operation follows ecological guidelines on human waste treatment, alternative energy use, environment management, and protection of local jobs that contribute to the development of the surrounding communities
12. Perks:
The region surrounding Aconcagua has an interesting history rich in culture. The area is called the Cuyo, derived from the Huarpe Indian term cuyyum which means sandy earth. Cuyo lies in the rain shadow created by the Andean Mountains . Areas with rain shadows have very little rainfall because moisture gets trapped by mountains, in the case of Cuyo, rain clouds get trapped by the Andes Mountains to the west leaving the region fairly dry. Although there is little rainfall, enough snow falls on the eastern slopes of the Andes to fill up rivers and provide irrigation to the area. The air is dry, the sun is always out, and the weather is perfect for growing grapes. Because of these advantages, the mendocinos (residents of Mendoza ) call their land "Tierra del Sol y Buen Vino," or Land of Sun and Good Wine.
The atmosphere in Mendoza is relaxed. People take long siestas in the afternoon to socialize and rest. The irrigation system has transformed the once arid land into a green oasis. It is amazing to realize that all of the millions of trees in the city were planted by the residents themselves! The city's low buildings lie along wide, tree-line streets, where channels of running water keep the temperature low and comfortable despite the desert heat. There are many parks used for recreation and as a place of safety in case of earthquakes (the region is often shaken by earthquakes; the last one in Mendoza was in January 1985). Mendoza 's rich history and relaxed lifestyle make it a popular tourist destination for Argentinian and international travelers. The backdrops of the Andes Mountains , with Aconcagua, make Mendoza a beautiful place to visit.
We think that climbers should spice up their trips to South America . You are here to climb, but is also interesting to see and experience the food, the wines, and the culture.
A rafting trip class IV in the Mendoza River is included to chill out on the way down from the mountain, as well as a farewell dinner in one of the most famous Wineries from Argentina : The Familia Zuccardi Winery.
