I'll be heading to Aconcagua in December, 2007 if anyone is interested in joining me. Start saving your pennies now and the cost won't be so bad when payment is due.
I'm also considering Denali in June but my work schedule may be conflicting so that is still up in the air.
PM me if interested.
GWG
Aconcagua: December, 2007
both peaks are overcroweded but trash is less visable on Denali. Denali is more aesthetic and more of a real "mountain" route, but the West Butt is WAY over croweded. If you don't mind crowds, it's a good way to go, but there are other routes just as technically easy that lead to the 14,000 advanced basecamp. I personally think Denali is way better bang for your buck. It also will give you a more "climber" feel, with both the Kahiltna camp and at ABC.
Depending on your experience level, I am heading to Peru for the month of July with another guy if you are in for some alpine. Elevation is equivelant to or greater than Denali.
Good luck!
Depending on your experience level, I am heading to Peru for the month of July with another guy if you are in for some alpine. Elevation is equivelant to or greater than Denali.
Good luck!
Aconcagua and Denali are very different, but both are really cool. Aconcagua is really third world. Not technically difficult at all, but remote, with a fairly long approach if you do the Polish Glacier.
While much easier than Denali, Aconcagua has one great hazard (OK, two if you count drowning on the approach). That is it's way too easy to get high on the mountain much quicker than you can acclimatize. When I climbed it back in the 80s there were two bodies in our high camp. On our way down I found a note tucked into some gear that we had left at 14,000 feet. It was a cheery message from some climbers from Denver who had turned back at 16,000 after one of their party developed HAPE. Years later I came to know one of the members of this party and found out that the guy who got sick had died! So be careful, even on this relatively easy peak. OK, there are three great hazards, if you count El Viente Blanco, and you'd better.
While much easier than Denali, Aconcagua has one great hazard (OK, two if you count drowning on the approach). That is it's way too easy to get high on the mountain much quicker than you can acclimatize. When I climbed it back in the 80s there were two bodies in our high camp. On our way down I found a note tucked into some gear that we had left at 14,000 feet. It was a cheery message from some climbers from Denver who had turned back at 16,000 after one of their party developed HAPE. Years later I came to know one of the members of this party and found out that the guy who got sick had died! So be careful, even on this relatively easy peak. OK, there are three great hazards, if you count El Viente Blanco, and you'd better.