Aconcagua

Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere and the highest peak outside Asia, with a summit elevation of 6,961 meters. It dominates the high Andes of Mendoza Province and is the centerpiece of Aconcagua Provincial Park.

Mountaineers use established routes to attempt the summit, with the northwest (normal) route the most frequented and non-technical in dry conditions, while other routes involve steeper and more technical climbing. Base camps and approach trails funnel climbers into the high mountain environment where acclimatization and logistics are central to summit attempts.

The mountain has long been known to indigenous Andean peoples and was first recorded in modern climbing annals in the 19th century; the first documented ascent of the summit was achieved in 1897. Since then Aconcagua has become a major objective for high-altitude climbing and trekking.

Located in Mendoza Province near the border with Chile, Aconcagua rises from the high Andes and is accessed overland from provincial roads and established mountain approach tracks serving the provincial park.

• Summit elevation: Highest mountain in the Americas and outside Asia, with a summit elevation of 6,961 meters, making it a primary objective for high-altitude mountaineers.

What to See #

• Aconcagua summit (6,961 m): Summit of Aconcagua, the highest point in the Western Hemisphere at 6,961 meters above sea level.
• Plaza de Mulas base camp: Plaza de Mulas base camp, the main high-altitude base used by the normal northwest route and logistical operations for summit attempts.