Skip to content
Menu
Backcountry Fever
  • Home Preview
  • Projects
    • Adirondack 46ers
    • Colorado 14ers
    • Seven Summits
      • Climb Aconcagua via the 360° Traverse | Full Guide
    • Wasatch 7
    • Wasatch 11ers
  • Highpoints
  • Experience
  • My Never-Ending List
  • Contact
Backcountry Fever
← Aconcagua Day 15: Return to Puente de Inca
Adiós Argentina →

Argentina Day 16 – Back in Mendoza

Posted on February 21, 2025August 25, 2025 by Backcountry Fever

As much as I thought one more day at Plaza de Mulas would have been nice, I was so glad we pushed through and made it back to Mendoza last night.  It was well worth the long bus ride and late-night return to wake up in a real bed after so many days on the trail.  We also now had three extra days to play with!  Some of the group planned side trips in the area, while I moved my flight up to get home sooner.

aristides letters mendoza

Gastronomy on Paseo Arístides

The first order of business today was food — and not the kind that came from a stuff sack or boiled in a camp pot.  We were craving something better.  A good burger quickly became the goal, so we wandered around town in search of the best.  We landed at Estilo Burgers on Aristides Villanueva (see F3 here).

estilo burgers sign

Yes! That was exactly what I had in mind — the perfect way to wrap up an adventure, if you ask me.

estilo burger and fries

Speaking of Arístides Villanueva (highlighted on this map), this is another hot spot in Mendoza worth exploring.  I didn’t venture this way before our trip, but glad to discover it afterward.  The promenade stretches for five blocks with so much to see and do — especially when it comes to food and spirits.

aristides villanueva mendoza

For authentic empanadas, I highly recommend Harry’s at the far west end of the paseo, near the Gargantini Soccer Stadium (marked as F5 on the map).

harrys fresh selections

Una palabra: ¡delicioso!

harrys empanadas

I could have easily spent another day tasting my way through the gastronomy on Paseo Arístides.

aristides villanueva promenade

Best Tiramisu in Mendoza

For one final recommendation, check out Bigalia Pizza, just across the street from El Asadito (marked F5 on the map).  The group ate here several times — including twice more after I had left.

bigalia pizza group photo

Returning to Bigalia was no surprise.  From one tiramisu aficionado to another, this is where you’ll find thee best take on this dessert in Mendoza — just look at that expression!

tiramisu aficionado

While I didn’t get to try a pizza from Bigalia myself, I made sure to savor a slice of this delightful treat before leaving for the airport.

← Aconcagua Day 15: Return to Puente de Inca
Adiós Argentina →

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I really wanted to do the loop, so I took another shot at Kessler, this time from the Relsek Trail. Let me tell ya, 2,000 feet of elevation in that 1-mile stretch from road to ridge is a real thigh-burner! 🥵

I also much rather liked climbing UP the gully to the summit, rather than the thought of going DOWN it (the part I didn`t want to tackle by myself last week).

As always, it felt rewarding to get it done and now I can say I`ve closed the loop on this one! 🥾⛰️

#kesslerpeak #relsektrail #loophike #wasatchmountains #legday

22 1
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18093421613420388
I really wanted to do the loop, so I took another shot at Kessler, this time from the Relsek Trail.  Let me tell ya, 2,000 feet of elevation in that 1-mile stretch from road to ridge is a real thigh-burner! 🥵

I also much rather liked climbing UP the gully to the summit, rather than the thought of going DOWN it (the part I didn't want to tackle by myself last week).

As always, it felt rewarding to get it done and now I can say I've closed the loop on this one! 🥾⛰️

#kesslerpeak #relsektrail #loophike #wasatchmountains #legday

Today`s sufferfest on Kessler Peak!

I wanted to do the loop, but when I considered the options down off the south ridge, I decided not to try that alone. Same with the mine I saw up there... not sure if that`s the same one I`ve seen others inside a tunnel?

Still a good time after not being out in a while.

#kesslerpeak #kesslerpealtrail #wasatchfront #sufferfest #legday

20 1
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 17960032346983601
Today's sufferfest on Kessler Peak!

I wanted to do the loop, but when I considered the options down off the south ridge, I decided not to try that alone.  Same with the mine I saw up there... not sure if that's the same one I've seen others inside a tunnel? 

Still a good time after not being out in a while.

#kesslerpeak #kesslerpealtrail #wasatchfront #sufferfest #legday

I struck out on Leatherman in 2024, and added that to my list of unfinished business. With the help of some adventurous friends, we dropped it in the bag. The last 2,000 feet was grueling, but so worth it now that we`re done. Thanks Andee, Greg and Dave 👊 I wouldn`t have made it without you!

#leathermanpeak #hikeidaho #lostriverrange #peakbagging #peakbagger

23 0
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18446485450137775
I struck out on Leatherman in 2024, and added that to my list of unfinished business.  With the help of some adventurous friends, we dropped it in the bag.  The last 2,000 feet was grueling, but so worth it now that we're done. Thanks Andee, Greg and Dave 👊 I wouldn't have made it without you!

#leathermanpeak #hikeidaho #lostriverrange #peakbagging #peakbagger

Couldn`t have asked for a better day to climb Mount Adams. The conditions today (6/4) were absolutely perfect!

These 6 miles were waaaay different from the last six I did in LA. This 6-mile climb to the summit packed in 6,700 feet of elevation and took 6 hours 45 minutes (one-way).

#mtadams #mountadams #pnw #mountaineering #legday

45 4
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 17988770517003932
Couldn't have asked for a better day to climb Mount Adams. The conditions today (6/4) were absolutely perfect!

These 6 miles were waaaay different from the last six I did in LA. This 6-mile climb to the summit packed in 6,700 feet of elevation and took 6 hours 45 minutes (one-way).

#mtadams #mountadams #pnw #mountaineering #legday

Spent the weekend in California for a wedding and managed to squeeze in a quick hike, L.A.-style.

After reaching Mount Lee behind the Hollywood Sign, I couldn`t resist tagging two other peaks along the Aileen Getty Ridge Trail: Cahuenga Peak, the highest point in Griffith Park, and Burbank Peak, home to the famous Wisdom Tree.

The hike came in at 6 miles with just 1,000 feet of elevation gain and took only 2 hours.

#hollywoodsign #cahuengapeak #burbankpeak #aileengettyridgetrail #hikela

19 0
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 17874758856610450
Spent the weekend in California for a wedding and managed to squeeze in a quick hike, L.A.-style.

After reaching Mount Lee behind the Hollywood Sign, I couldn't resist tagging two other peaks along the Aileen Getty Ridge Trail: Cahuenga Peak, the highest point in Griffith Park, and Burbank Peak, home to the famous Wisdom Tree.

The hike came in at 6 miles with just 1,000 feet of elevation gain and took only 2 hours.

#hollywoodsign #cahuengapeak #burbankpeak #aileengettyridgetrail #hikela

Still chasing snow! Took my brother-in-law on his first-ever mountaineering experience. We went up Temple Couloir, over to Deseret Peak, and then slid down West Twin Couloir. Hard to beat spring days like this.

This was my 6th summit of Deseret Peak.

#deseretpeak #templecouloir #twincouloirs #mountaineering #chasingsnow

46 4
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 17898155133454122
Still chasing snow! Took my brother-in-law on his first-ever mountaineering experience. We went up Temple Couloir, over to Deseret Peak, and then slid down West Twin Couloir.  Hard to beat spring days like this.

This was my 6th summit of Deseret Peak.

#deseretpeak #templecouloir #twincouloirs #mountaineering #chasingsnow

One of my favorite things to do between ski season and hiking season: kicking steps up a steep slope toward some snow-capped summit!

#mountaineering #kickingsteps #steepslope #snowcapped #summitday

33 4
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 17939009859229790
One of my favorite things to do between ski season and hiking season: kicking steps up a steep slope toward some snow-capped summit!

#mountaineering #kickingsteps #steepslope #snowcapped #summitday

Another moderate day of mountaineering up the north slope of Mt. Superior, known as Cardiac Bowl. I`ve only been to this peak once before, from the typical summer trail, so it was way fun to get there from this direction.

#mountsuperior #northslope #cardiacbowl #mountaineering #wasatch11ers

32 0
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18131016616566455
Another moderate day of mountaineering up the north slope of Mt. Superior, known as Cardiac Bowl.  I've only been to this peak once before, from the typical summer trail, so it was way fun to get there from this direction.

#mountsuperior #northslope #cardiacbowl #mountaineering #wasatch11ers

With such good coverage and a big storm rolling in, I think Alta should stay open for at least another week!

#stillskiing #springskiing #skiutah #skiing #alta

15 0
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18013199525845115
With such good coverage and a big storm rolling in, I think Alta should stay open for at least another week! 

#stillskiing #springskiing #skiutah #skiing #alta
Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Adventuring Alone on Adams
  • A Road Trip to Trout Lake
  • The Interview That Made Me Reconsider Hydrogen Water
  • After a Year with the COROS Vertix 2S
  • 5 Million Vertical Feet Gained Over 5 Years

Recent Comments

  • Kirsto on How I Would Do Kings Peak in 1 Day
  • Backcountry Fever on Solo Summit of Shasta
  • Michelle Tirhi on Solo Summit of Shasta
  • Matt on How I Would Do Kings Peak in 1 Day
  • Rich Meziere on Bummed Out By A Broken BOA Binding

RECOMMENDED READING

Categories

  • 14ers
  • Adventure Plans
  • Avalanche Awareness
  • Backpacking
  • Epic Treks
  • Grand Canyon
  • Health & Wellness
  • International Expeditions
  • Mountaineering
  • New England
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Peak Bagging
  • Product Feedback
  • Reading References
  • Road Trip
  • Scrambling
  • Season Summary
  • Seven Summits
  • Six-Pack Challenge
  • Snowshoeing
  • Social Media
  • State Highpoints
  • Technology
  • Uinta Mountains
  • Uncategorized
  • Uphill Training
  • Wasatch Front
  • Zion
©2026 Backcountry Fever