Aconcagua expeditions: Guanacos Valley, Ameghino Valley, Polish Glacier* and Normal Routes needs this equipment list (Polish Glacier requires additional equipment (see below)
FEET
- Socks:
- 3 pair outer socks, thick wool or polypropylene
- 3 pair inner socks, thin silk or plypropylene
- 2 pair cotton socks (for approach)
- Climbing boots plastic or leather DOUBLE mountaineering boots (ask us about new leather double boots models such as La Sportiva Nuptse, the Vasque Ice 9000 or the Salomon Pro Thermic)
- Lightweight hiking boots or sturdy tennis shoes
- Booties, down or polarguard
- Gaitors
- Neoprene booties with sole, for river crossings. Lightweight ok. sandals or old pair of tennis are also ok
UPPER BODY
- 2 Lightweight polypropylene or capilene turtleneck
- 1 Expedition weight polypropylene or capilene shirt
- Fleece jacket
- Breathable windproof outer jacket, such as goretex, with hood
- Heavy weight down or Polarguard Expedition Parka with heavyweight expedition hood (-20 F)
- Cotton T-shirts
LOWER BODY
- Polypropylene or nylon briefs or underpants - 3 pair (optional)
- Lightweight polypropylene or capilene long underwear bottoms - 1 pair
- Expedition weight polypropylene or capilene long underwear bottoms- 1 pair
- Fleece pants (full length side zippers recommended)
- Breathable windproof pants or bibs such as Goretex (full length sidezippers recommended)
- Shorts - 1 pair
- Lightweight cotton pants (hike in, base camp - optional)
HANDS
- Mittens, thick fleece, down or thick wool - 1 pair
- Gloves, polypropylene or capilene - 1 pair
- Insulated finger gloves - 1 pair
- Goretex wind shells for mittens (needed only if your mittens are not made of windproof material) - 1 pair
HEAD
- Ski hat, wool or fleece
- Balaclava, wool, polypropylene or capilene - to cover neck, chin & face
- Baseball cap
SLEEPING GEAR
- Down or polarguard sleeping bag comfortable to -20F
- 1 foam pad or 1 thermarest pad (full length recommended)
PACK
- Pack with 5000 - 6000 cubic inches capacity
- Large day pack for approach
- Extra Large strong duffel bag (at least 7000 cubic inches) w/strong zipper and a lock, large enough for pack to fit in, for mules to carry and for storeage of gear.
- Extra large stuff sack for gear storage in camp
TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT
- Ice axe 70 cm. approx. Standing with your arm relaxed at your side, the ice axe should reach from the palm of your hand to the ground. For Polish Glacier Route it can be 5-10 cm shorter.
- Crampons, 12 points non-rigid recommended. For Polish Glacier Route; rigid are fine.
- Ski poles - adjustable preferred
POLISH GLACIER ROUTE ONLY
- Climbing harness, to fit comfortably over bulky clothing.
- Carabiners, 6 regular, 2 locking
- 1 Ascender
- 30 feet of 6mm perlon rope
- Climbing helmet
PERSONALS
- Head lamp and extra batteries
- Sun glasses two pair (one as a spare)
- Ski goggles
- Sun screen lotion SPF 29 - 1 large or 2 small tubes
- Sun screen lip protection 1 stick
- Skin moisturizer 3 oz.
- Mole skin, bandaids, tape, throat lozenges
- Pocket knife
- Plastic bowl, large cup (insulated), spoon
- 2 water bottles -1 quart capacity wide mouth (nalgene recommended) w/ water bottle insulator
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Toilet paper - 1 or 2 rolls
- Antibiotics 1 cycle broad spectrum
- Aspirin or Ibuprofen - 30
- Disposable lighter
- Stuff sacks 2-3, assorted sizes (one extra large to store contents of pack on summit day)
- Iodine pills - 2 new small bottles (for water purification)
- $100 US dollars in small bills ($1 s, $5 s, & $10 s) for meals, drinks, etc. in Penitentes
OPTIONALS: Take most of these items to Base Camp only.
- Camera and film
- Journal, pen/pencil, book, games, walkman
- 1 Thermos 1 quart capacity (useful up high)
- Small towel and soap, baby wipes, foot powder
- Swimsuit
- Teva sandals
- Cotton bandana
- Portable water filtration system
- earplugs (for windy nights)
- Pee bottle 1 qt. capacity, wide mouth, nalgene bottle (useful at higher camps)
- 2 lbs. of your favorite lunch treat or energy bar (we provide full lunches)
- 1 oz. of your favorite spice
- Hydrating system, (for approach and lower mountain only) 2 quart capacity, (i.e. camel bags) Do not count on this as a replacement for water bottles, since they do freeze up high
- disposable handwarmers (for summit day
