Ascent to Vallecitos-Cordon del Plata, Mendoza

Vallecitos is a Ski Resort 80 km far from Mendoza Capital City. There, we can find a varied proposal of mountain huts such as Cuyo University Hut, Refuge San Bernardo, Refuge Mausy (Mendoza Andean Club). Those huts area is located at 2.900 meters and offer a warm hosting and a wide campsite in Las Veguitas (3.200m).  From there, we also can admire the amazing views of the hills Aldolfo Calle, Stepanek, San Bernardo and Franke. All of them belong to the Front Range at 4.000 meters above the sea level.

Following the high camp El Salto 4200m, we will find the hills Lomas Amarillas, the Rincon, Vallecitos and Plata. The ascent to them requires a good physical condition and previous mountaineering experience. Any of the ascents will take between 4 and 7 days, depending the individual acclimatization and weather conditions.

So, I am offering you the opportunity of living a intensive adventure, giving you the advice about the suitable clothing, technical equipment, nutrition and hydration.

I am inviting to go around this beautiful high mountain zone of Vallecitos and why not? watch and admire guanacos, condors, red foxes and enjoy their native flora.

Itinerary – Vallecitos Hill

DAY 1: From Mendoza Capital, transfer to Vallecitos

Accomodation in Cuyo University Hut.

*Note: This day will be used as acclimatization around the hut (depending on the level of my clients, we can try a summit attempt in Cerro Andresito, Cerro Arenales or Cerro Lomas Blancas. Their altitude goes from 3.100 to 3.650 meters).

DAY 2: Veguitas and Piedra Grande (3.500m).

*Note: We will leave the Cuyo University Hut early in the morning and we will sleep in tents in Piedra Grande.

DAY 3: Piedra Grande and El Salto (4.200 m)

We leave the camp in the morning, sleep in tents in our high camp El Salto, from where we will do a summit attempt.

DAY 4: Acclimatization

*Note: This day will be used to trek to La Hoyada at 4.600m in order to gain a better acclimatization, depending on my clients’ physical training.

DAY 5: Summit day- Cerro Vallecitos (5.470 m) – El Salto again

We start the day early in the morning and sleep in El Salto.

DAY 6: Piedra Grande -Veguitas – C.U Hut

Transfer from the hut to Mendoza City, leaving from Piedra Grande early in the morning.

DAY 7: This day will be used just in case circumstances are required or acclimatization needed or bad weather.

Obligatory equipment:

trekking pants / polar or thermal pants/ waterproof pants/ first skin underwear pants/ 2 pairs of high mountain warm socks/ 2 pairs of Polypropylene socks / 2 pairs of trekking socks/ high mountain double boots/ leggings/ 2 short-sleeved shirts /2 first skin underwear long-sleeved shirts/ polar or wind-stopper suit or jacket / warm jacket (primarily duvet)/ Rain jacket/ firs skin thin gloves / 1 pair of warm gloves and a spare one/ mitten covers or waterproof gloves / sun hat / polar hat/ buff or polar neck / category 3-4 sunglasses / spare sunglasses/ trekking poles/ 75 + 15 lts backpack / headlamp with spare batteries/ sleeping bag (-15º / -25ºC)/ insulating mat/ 1 l. unbroken thermal water/ multipurpose penknife/ unbroken glass and dish/ 2 1-liter bottles/ personal first aid kit/ sun screen (factor 60 or more)/ lip balm / moisturizing lotion/ lighter/ nylon bags/ crampons and pickaxe cruise (depending on terrain conditions)

It will be an unforgettable experience and I would like to live it with you. I will be waiting for your contact.