The bug for bigger mountains bit hard right after climbing Orizaba and Izta in Mexico. Before then, I hadn’t been above 14,500 feet — on the summit of Mt. Whitney. Doing Denali is still in my cross hairs, but there’s a lot of uncertainty about who I want to climb it with and how we’re going to get it done, guided or not. Now, when the opportunity to climb Aconcagua came through my tentmate in Alaska, I decided to switch the order of things. Could Aconcagua be a better prep for Denali than Denali Prep itself? I sure was hoping it would! So off to Argentina I went…
Twenty hours after leaving Salt Lake City, I landed in Mendoza with 97 pounds of mountaineering gear in tow — a 140L duffel weighing in at 42 pounds and my expedition-sized luggage at 55.
It was a stressful day of connections from SLC to LAX to SCL to MDZ — and my Oura ring let me know!
At the airport, I was greeted by a representative from Inka Expediciones, a local outfitter since 1991. They had arranged my stay at Raices Aconcagua Hotel near the heart of the city (see H1 marked on this map). Once checked in, I wandered the streets, getting a feel for the city’s layout and lively atmosphere.
Summer in South America
It felt surreal to fast-forward into the next season overnight — from snow skiing in frigid temps one day to sweating in 90° heat and shorts the next. February in South America is like August in North America.
Each plaza had its own feel, from Plaza Italia (pictured above) to Plaza España (shown below).
I walked through Plaza Chili several times in the northeast corner of the square, but never once made it to Plaza San Martin to the west (see map for references).
Centerpiece of the City
The most impressive of them all is Plaza Independencia, the centerpiece of this city. Busy by day, it really comes alive each evening with a fountain show choreographed to music.
It seemed to be the thing everyone did on these hot summer nights.
I finished the evening with a classic Argentine steak dinner at El Asadito, referenced as F1 on this map.
Argentina is known for its grilled meats, and their bife de chorizo did not disappoint — perfectly cooked and amazingly delicious. Tiramisu for dessert also sparked an unexpected mission to find the best in town. El Asadito’s was good, but the true winner would be discovered later.
This is exactly why I arrived in Mendoza two days early — to recover from a long flight, to avoid being rushed from one thing to the next. To wander the city before the real adventure begins, and to experience the furthest country south I had ever visited.
I also brought my laptop and planned to wrap up a few work items before signing off for 3 weeks!
