Aconcagua (6962 m asl) in the Argentine Andes, is the highest mountain in the Cordillera, across the American continent and the entire southern hemisphere. is also the highest mountain on Earth outside of Asia. Because of these properties is the second highest mountain after Mount Everest to prominence.
The peak is located in the province of Mendoza, Argentina, near the border with Chile, in the Aconcagua Provincial Park. The mountain consists of rocks belonging to the Permo-Triassic period, and its genesis is still higher than it was, and is due to the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate under the Andean orogeny.
The name's origin is uncertain. The Colet shows the existence in Chile, Aconcagua of the people from whom they named the valle da loro abitata e, di conseguenza, anche la montagna.
Il popolo Aconcagua è citato anche da altri autori.Secondo quanto riportato dal Secor, il nome potrebbe derivare dal quechua Anco Cahuac, ovvero "sentinella bianca", oppure Ackon Cahuak, ovvero "sentinella di pietra". Lo stesso autore riferisce che in lingua Aymara il termine kon kawa significa "montagna innevata",mentre nella lingua mapudungun del popolo mapuche Aconca Hue significa "che viene dall'altra parte". Il sito Andes Argentinos riporta una probabile origine dal quechua accon cahua, col probabile significato di "la grande rocca che guarda intorno".
Sulle falde della montagna vi sono diversi ghiacciai: i principali sono il ghiacciaio nordorientale (Or Polish) and the East Glacier (or English).
The first European attempt to reach the summit of Aconcagua was in 1883 when a German expedition led by geologist and explorer Paul Güssfeldt tried to reach the summit from the spur north-west, arriving at an altitude of 6500 m. The expedition followed what is now the normal route.
The peak was reached for the first time in 1897 by Matthias Zurbriggen, Swiss mountain guide who worked in Macugnaga, the expedition led by Briton Edward Fitzgerald.
The first woman to reach the summit was the French Adriana Bance, March 7, 1940, accompanied by several members of the Andean Club de Mendoza. In many
atlases still figure the old measure of the altitude (6959 m) taken at that juncture. An Italian expedition of the University of Padua in 2002, noted that the exact altitude of Aconcagua is 6,962 m above sea level
The permanent snowline is around 5000 m.Da one of its slopes down to the river itself reaching the Pacific Ocean after a course of 200 km.
ascension to the summit
Access to the Aconcagua Provincial Park is limited to undertake the ascent to the summit, you must apply for a permit to park management authority, the Dirección de Recursos Naturales Renovables of the province of Mendoza. The cost of the permit varies from year to year; is also tied to the season, being higher in high season. The best time to take the rise is the summer (December to March in the southern hemisphere).
Via normal
The normal route to the summit is not particularly difficult mountaineering. It grows on the north-east, and is little more than a long walk, punctuated by the necessary steps for acclimatization. The main risks are related to altitude (just under 7000 m) and to sudden weather changes. The stages of acclimation require a few days each.
The various fields and staging points that lie along the route are as follows.
* Puente del Inca, 2740 m. It is of a country on the main road, which starts the climb proper. There are several places to stay, including a shelter. *
Confluencia, 3380 m. Camping in the Park, a few hours ride from the start.
* Plaza de Mulas, 4370 m. Base camp, with tents, showers, internet access. There is a shelter for about 500 m. *
Plaza Canadá, 5050 m. Refuge in a panoramic position above Plaza de Mulas. * Alaska
Plaza, 5200 m. This change of slope, as positioned at the point where the slope of the hill falls abruptly. This is an area set up for tents, but it is not widely used.
* Nido de Condores, 5400 m. A vast panoramic plateau, normally, there is camped a guard.
* Berlin, 5900 m. Typical areas of high altitude, windy and exposed. It's pretty dirty, so most climbers avoid it, preferring to move a bit 'higher up in places Piedras Blancas.
Way of the Polish Glacier
spread of the Polish Glacier, also on the NE side. The approach is through the valle de las vacas, to the base of the glacier and from there, go up the glacier, crossing the normal route, to the summit.
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