From speed ascents to summit milestones, 2025 pushed the limits on South America’s tallest peak!
Ariel Perinetti — 60 Aconcagua Ascents
The first record I had the privilege of witnessing was set with Ariel, the lead guide for our expedition last month.
About halfway through the climb, he revealed that this would be his sixtieth summit if we made it to the top. We were all excited! Suddenly, the climb felt bigger than our own since now we were part of his milestone too.
Those goals were accomplished on February 18, 2025.
For context, here are the top 5 record holders for having the most lifetime ascents on Aconcagua:
- Marco Dipaola — 70+ summits
- Mendoza-based high-altitude guide
- Widely recognized as holding the all-time record of Aconcagua ascents
- Known for guiding multiple climbs each season for decades
- Ariel Perinetti — 60 summits
- Veteran Argentine guide with more that three decades on the mountain
- Often considered second only to Dipaola in lifetime total ascents
- Willie Benegas — 50+ summits
- Originally from Argentina, now based in the U.S. (Utah, actually)
- Guiding both in the Andes and Himalayas
- One of the most recognized international Aconcagua guides
- Horacio “Cacho” Morales — 40-50+ summits*
- Longtime local guide and fixture in the Mendoza climbing community
- Hernan Leal — 40+ summits
- Clilean climb and guide with decades of Aconcagua experience
Karl Egloff — New Speed Record to Both Peaks
The next record set on Aconcagua also happened while I was in Argentina. We were on our way to Puente de Inca on February 7, when Karl Egloff set a new speed record. According to ExplorersWeb: “He ran from [Plaza de Mulas] Base Camp to the main and south summits and back in 8 hrs 49 min.”
The article called it an “unusual” record since Karl wasn’t even aware of anyone ever linking the main and south summits in a single push from Base before.
Either way, Egloff is an impressive trailer runner, endurance athlete and speed climber. He also holds the current record for the fastest known time (FKT) from the Horcones trailhead to the summit and back — 11 hours, 52 minutes, set on December 19, 2014.
To put that in perspective, here’s the rough breakdown:
- Horcones trailhead → Plaza de Mulas: 15 miles, 5,100 feet of gain
- Plaza de Mulas → Camp 3 Cólera: 4 miles, 5,300 feet of gain
- Camp 3 Cólera → Summit: 4 miles, 3,000 feet of gain
- And back: 23 miles
That’s 46 miles round trip with more than 13,000 feet climbing — all at altitude — in less that 12 hours!
Lenka Poláčková — Female FKT (Fastest Known Time)
Last, but certainly not least is Lenka Poláčková, who “smashed the female FKT (Fastest Known Time) on Aconcagua” on January 25, 2025, as reported by ExplorersWeb.
Lenka shaved an hour off the previous record set by Rachael Boim in 2023. Her speed climb from Plaza de Mulas to summit was done in 6 hours, 19 minutes, with a round-trip time of 8 hours, 17 minutes.
She also holds the women’s FKT from Horcones → Summit → Horcones: 14 hours, 11 minutes. This “landmark performance“, as many described it, beat the previous women’s record by 2 hours!
Each of these record-setting efforts is truly remarkable given the brutal altitude and distance. Congratulations to all — I could only dream about pulling off such accomplishments.
