Lying on the border between Argentina and Chile, Aconcagua (6962m / 22835ft) is the highest peak outside Asia. Its extreme height and changeable weather make for a very challenging climb, but little is required in the way of technical climbing skills. Climbing Aconcagua provides a logical next step for anyone who has successfully climbed one of the Himalayan trekking peaks. Flying in to the charming city of Mendoza, capital of the wine-growing Cuyo region, it is only a short drive to Penitentes Village and the start of our 3-day approach trek to Aconcagua basecamp at the Plaza de Mulas (4260m / 14000ft). Mules carry the team's equipment up to this camp, while high altitude porters assist with the establishment of 3 further camps on the mountain. To maximise the group's chances of success, our extended itinerary includes plenty of time for acclimatisation and as many as 3 days for summit attempts.

The ascent of Aconcagua, via the Normal Route, is generally considered to be a trek, rather than a climb and as such it is a very difficult trip to grade. On the approach to the mountain we have several days of straightforward trekking above Penitentes Village and in the valley which leads to the basecamp at Plaza de Mulas. Above basecamp we will encounter mostly zig-zag trails across scree, as well as unstable boulder fields and easy-angled snow slopes. Although the gradient of the ascent is generally low, the extreme height of the peak will provide a real challenge. As we go higher, our increasingly poor physical performance will exaggerate the apparent difficulty of the ascent. We have taken care to allow lots of time for acclimatisation.