Hike to Camp Confluencia

Preparing in Mendoza

My Climbing Gear for Aconcagua

Just about everyone who climbs Aconcagua first makes a stop in Mendoza. It’s a large city where you can find just about anything you might still need for a high-altitude expedition, and it’s also where I registered for my climbing permit.

Mendoza sits at only about 2,700 feet (800 meters), so there isn’t much acclimatizing to be done yet. Instead, these first few days were about getting everything organized before heading into the Andes. Above is all the climbing gear I took onto the mountain, totaling about 45 pounds. This was my last bit of comfort and city life before committing to as much as three weeks on Aconcagua.

Loading Our Gear in Mendoza

After a few days in Mendoza, we loaded a cargo van and trailer with all our supplies and began the roughly three-hour drive toward the ski resort of Penitentes. Snow-covered mountains are difficult to see from Mendoza, but once we entered the Andes the scenery changed quickly.

Entering the Andes

Penitentes and the Andes

Penitentes in the Andes

During the summer, Penitentes is mostly empty except for climbers, hikers, and travelers making the journey between Argentina and Chile. It’s a small place, but there are accommodations, restaurants, and a few places to pick up last-minute supplies.

We used our time here to begin acclimatizing with some hikes around the surrounding mountains. Mendoza had been my last day of city life; Penitentes was my last day in civilization until the end of the expedition.

Unexpected Company on an Acclimatization Hike

During one hike with my climbing partner, we headed up toward the top of the ski lifts for a great view over Penitentes. Along the way we found a pack of dogs, who apparently decided they were coming too and joined us for part of our acclimatization hike.

Entering Aconcagua Provincial Park

Entrance to Aconcagua Provincial Park

After a night in Penitentes, we made the short drive to the entrance of Aconcagua Provincial Park. The trail begins at roughly 9,350 feet (2,850 meters). From here onward, we would be traveling on foot as we worked our way toward a summit more than 13,000 feet above us.

Helicopter at Aconcagua Provincial Park

At the park entrance I watched a helicopter land. Helicopters are used to move supplies to and from base camp and, much more importantly, to evacuate climbers who become sick or injured on the mountain.

A Cyclist and His Unexpected Traveling Companion

Before our hike even began, I met a man riding his bicycle all the way from São Paulo, Brazil. The dog with him had apparently joined his journey in Buenos Aires and was traveling west with him toward the Pacific. I was about to spend weeks climbing Aconcagua, but his journey sounded like an adventure of its own.

The Hike to Confluencia

Beginning the Hike Into Aconcagua Provincial Park

After checking in with the rangers and getting our permits squared away, we finally started walking. Our first destination was Camp Confluencia, roughly four hours away and just below 11,000 feet (3,300 meters).

Hiking Through the Horcones Valley

The trail through the Horcones Valley was easy going, especially compared with what was waiting for us higher on the mountain. Mules carried most of our expedition gear toward base camp, leaving us with only small day packs. With beautiful weather and relatively flat terrain, the first real day of the expedition was actually enjoyable.

Inca Remains Near Aconcagua

One of the more interesting things I encountered along the trail were the remains of Inca activity in the area. Otherwise, the day was mostly about taking in the enormous landscape around us as we gradually made our way farther into the Andes.

Camp Confluencia

Arriving at Camp Confluencia

Warm weather and relatively easy terrain meant we could focus on our surroundings and not hate every step of the journey. I reached Camp Confluencia after about four hours with plenty of energy and excitement left.

Camp Confluencia

Confluencia felt almost luxurious at this point. The weather was still warm, the food was good, and they even had a real toilet!

A Real Toilet at Camp Confluencia

Bouldering Near Camp Confluencia

Not everyone at Confluencia was there to climb Aconcagua. We met some people who had come simply to camp, enjoy the mountains, and do some bouldering. My climbing partner was already a serious rock climber, so naturally he joined them. I wasn’t much of a rock climber myself at the time; it wasn’t until years later that I finally got into it.

The Mountains Surrounding Confluencia

We spent some time hiking around camp, and the scenery was seriously some of the best I’d ever seen. You wouldn’t even have to climb Aconcagua for the trip to be worthwhile; hiking to Confluencia alone would be worth it.

I never found out the name of the enormous mountain rising behind camp, but with all its different colors and sheer size, it was absolutely stunning.

Camp Confluencia Surrounded by the Andes