Winter Mountaineering Course - Vallecitos, Mendoza

Proposal

The Mountaineering school

The Cordón del Plata, better known as Vallecitos, is a mountain range used as a mountaineering school. There are grouped mountains of different heights, valleys and ideal conditions for mountaineering enthusiasts of all levels.

In this course, we propose you to develop contents related to winter mountaineering, with opening of tracks, preparation of camps, climbing in snowfields, ice climbing, practice of glacier transit and even ascent to summits.

Course Contents:

Special care in winter: cold, sun, wind, nutrition-hydration. How to live in the snow
Snow: types, consistency, metamorphosis. Avalanches.
Snow trekking
Winter camping: armed, general considerations
First steps: Open trail, slopes, slopes, ascents-descents, self-arrest
Personal equipment, uses and characteristics: Canes, Pickaxe-Piolet, crampons
Security material, uses and characteristics: Anchors, stakes, screws, nails.
Safety rope: Ensemble, glacier roped. strings
Snow and ice climbing: Corridors, waterfalls (axe traction). Mixed climbing

2022 Dates of our winter Mountaineering Courses:

July 27th to 30th - Vallecitos, Mendoza
August 13th to 16th - Caviahue, Neuquén
September 5th to 9th - Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego

ITINERARY

Day 1: Transfer from Mendoza City to Vallecitos by charter vehicle (2 hour-trip). Preparation in the shelter. Initial talk of the equipment and basic notions. Walk with backpack, poles and snowshoes (if necessary). First practices. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Breakfast. Self arrest. First steps. Open footprint. Scenario reading. Nivology, snow types, cuts, slope analysis: avalanches. Lunch. Rope-in ??practice in assembly and glacier with rescue in crevasses. Pickaxe technique. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Breakfast. Crampon practice. Mixed climbing. Anchors in snow: stakes, anchors, mushrooms. Armed systems. Lunch. Special techniques with ice ax and crampons. Climbing pitches through corridors and rugged slopes. Ascent to summit to be defined. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Breakfast. Ice climbing (axe traction) in artificial waterfalls, if conditions allow it. Climbing option to the summit of Lomas Blancas. Lunch. Final content review. End of the course. Return in the afternoon to Mendoza City.

Included Services

Transfers to and from Mendoza
Guided and permanent instruction. professional guides
General equipment: ropes, carabiners, cords, tapes, general group technical material
Communication: vhf radio - satellite phone
First aid team and lifeguards
3 nights in a shelter with beds, bathroom and kitchen-dining room
The entire course and its contents, the 4 continuous days.
Guided ascent to the summit to be designated
Prior advice with meetings, audiovisual and others.
Personal accident insurance

Services NOT included

Trip to Mendoza (flight or bus tickets)
Meals (The idea is to shop together with the group and cooking a suitable menu for dinners and to take away during the activities.)
Personal equipment (clothing and technical: pickaxe, crampons, helmet, harness, rackets, etc) Ask us for the complete combo rental.

Note

Considerations

It is an intense experience in the middle of winter. It is important to know that contact with snow and cold is permanent and important. The equipment is essential to be of quality and complete.
You spend the night in a mountain refuge with basic amenities

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperatures must be tolerated?

Although we spend the night in a shelter, temperatures can drop considerably below 0 degrees during the day. It is very important to have the right equipment and that it is of quality.

Also, protect yourself a lot from the sun with a hat-cap, neckerchiefs, sunscreen and category 4 mountain glasses.

What sleeping bag should I take?

The sleeping bag does not need to be too warm but also not too simple. The duvet material-goose down are the best, but the synthetic ones today also have modern materials and high performance. You can rent a sleeping bag with us.

How should I travel to the meeting point?

By flight or long distance bus to Mendoza City.

Is there anything you can tell me about the group?

In general, these are very heterogeneous groups (all kinds of people). Varied ages and sexes, people traveling alone, accompanied by a friend, couples, families, etc.

Where do you spend the night?

In a mountain shelter, shared rooms within the group, in beds + sleeping bag.

What physical condition should I have to be able to carry out this type of expedition?

It is not decisive that you are an updated athlete and that you train 4 times a week. But it is important that you know that the better you are physically, it will always be better. The idea of ??these adventures is that you can enjoy it and not suffer it. If you don't usually train, go for a run, bike or other aerobic activity, we recommend that you attend one of our weekly training classes associated with mountain activities. And if you start by going for a walk with a backpack loaded with no less than 8 kilograms and doing several kilometers per week and also going up and down stairs or slopes in series of 20 uninterrupted minutes.

From what age can they do this activity?

From 16 years of age with authorization or accompaniment of an adult.

How much does the backpack weigh?

Not too much, we carry out the activities and walks to and from the shelter. 5 kg maximum.

Difficulty Graduation System

Click on each indicator to see details

40%

Backpack (M)

Backpack: Weight / Duration of the Day.

Clic para detalles

80%

Physical (F)

Physical demand

Clic para detalles

60%

Technical (T)

Technician: Difficulty in the Field / Equipment.

Clic para detalles

40%

Psycho (P)

Psychological Strength

Clic para detalles

60%

Height (A)

Height Exposure

Clic para detalles

How to interpret these values?

Each aspect is evaluated from 20% to 100%, where:

20-40%: Basic or beginner level
60%: Intermediate level
80-100%: Advanced or expert level

Recommended for intermediate level

Previous experience and good physical condition required.

Required equipment

GENERAL EQUIPMENT

Special backpack for trekking (40 to 60 litres)
Warm sleeping bag (0 degrees). Possible to rent
Trekking poles with snow rosette (possible to rent)

FOOTWEAR

1 Medium-high mountain boots (they can be simple but warm boots or double synthetic or plastic boots). (possible to rent)
1 spare trekking shoe

FIRST LAYER (First skin)

Underwear
Cotton shirts (to be in the camp and to sleep)
T-shirts and/or long-sleeved synthetic t-shirts
Polypropylene pants or leggings or similar (not cotton). To use as warm inner pants
Thin polypropylene gloves or similar (not cotton)
Warm hat
Pairs of thin synthetic socks or similar (not cotton)
Buff scarf neck

SECOND LAYER (Coat)

Trekking socks (synthetic-thermal)
Thick mountain socks
Cotton or wool socks (wool is good for sleeping)
Long pants replacement of the trouser cover (ski type)
Warm coat (100 fleece coverall or 200 fleece coverall)
Thick down-duvet jacket
Fleece gloves (with fingers or mittens)
Sun hat

THIRD LAYER (windproof and waterproof)

Waterproof jacket - parka (gore tex or similar)
Trouser cover (gore tex or similar)
Third layer gloves or mittens (waterproof and breathable)
Ski gloves (as a spare)
Mountain gaiters

INDIVIDUAL TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT

Crampons (possible to rent)
Climbing helmet (possible to rent)
Harness + self-securing strap + carabiners and safety plate (possible to rent)
Ice ax-traverse pickaxe (possible to rent)
Snowshoes (possible to rent), if necessary

PERSONAL ELEMENTS

Passport or ID.
Medical travel insurance
Complete medical and personal file

VARIOUS ELEMENTS

HEADLIGHT with batteries (with spare batteries)
Strong plastic bags to store clothes.

HEALTH & HYGIENE

Sunglasses with UV protection Category 4
Spare lenses (can be goggles, highly recommended)
Personal kit (medication with the relevant prescription)
High sunscreen, Lip balm
Soap, shampoo (small to share) and small towel.
Toilet paper. handkerchiefs Baby wipes.

KITCHEN & PERSONAL USE

Containers to drink water, for a minimum of 4 liters (2 1-liter bottles and 1 hydration bag with a 2-liter hose)
Personal crockery: Plastic deep plate, glass / jug, cutlery

OPTIONAL, not mandatory