A mountaineering course in winter conditions with the comfort of spending the night in a mountain shelter
Duración:4 days Salida desde:Mendoza CityRegión:Cuyo, Argentina
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Start Date:2026-Jul-04
End Date:2026-Jul-07
Hora Inicio:10 am
Hora Fin:5 pm
Meeting Point:Mendoza City
Duration:4 days
Availability:
Last place!
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
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.
¿Para quién es Winter Mountaineering Course - Vallecitos, Mendoza?
Winter Mountaineering Course - Vallecitos, Mendoza es una expedición que la puede realizar cualquier aventurero con la preparación física, equipo y experiencia previa adecuada con salida desde Mendoza City , en la región Cuyo, Argentina, Argentina.
Tiene una duración de 4 days . Todos nuestros programas incluyen guías de montaña certificados, logistica de expedición y seguro de accidentes personales.
¿Qué nivel físico se necesita para Winter Mountaineering Course - Vallecitos, Mendoza?
Como medír la dificultad de un ascenso o una expedicion? es una pregunta que surge a menudo. Para esto desarrollamos un sistema de graduación que ayuda al participante a medir la dificultad, dado a que evaluamos 5 variables sobre la intensidad de cada propuesta. • El peso de la mochila en relación a la duración de la jornada • La exigencia física • El nivel técnico del terreno y equipo requerido • El grado de fortaleza psíquica necesaria • La altura máxima que se alcanza
Hace click el botón y evalua vos mismo la dificultad ->:
¿Qué equipamiento necesito para participar del Winter Mountaineering Course - Vallecitos, Mendoza?
En cada uno de nuestros programas vas encontrar un apartado de EQUIPO REQUERIDO. conta con nosotros para asesorarte y prepararlo de forma adeacuada para maximizar el disfrute de la actividad. Contamos con una tienda de alquiler, para resolver si te falta algo. Chequealo ahora! ->
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
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
Backpack (M)
Backpack (M)
This point refers to the weight we have to carry in our backpacks. Treks or journeys where we use pack animals allow us to carry less weight on our backs.
20%Up to 5 Kilos: Short excursion walks / Trekking Talampaya
40%Up to 8/10 Kilos: Round-trip trekking / Vallecitos 3 and 4-day programs
60%Up to 12/15 kilos: Crossing trekking with porting / Crossing of the Andes Paso Portillo
80%More than 15/18 kilos: Cross-country trekkings with little or no portage / Trekkings in Patagonia
100%More than 25 Kilos: With a lot of equipment on top and little or no porting / Continental Ice
Physical demand (F)
Physical (F)
We define physical demand as the fatigue we may experience both aerobically and in the muscles, legs, and joints.
20%half a day or less with little unevenness.
40%more sustained slopes and longer days in the activity. 2-3 days / more than 6 hours per day.
60%Long ascents and descents with a longer duration. Ascents to more than 4000 meters in the central mountain range.
80%Important work of legs in resistance. Very long days. Very long day ascents.
100%Maximum demand. Aerobic work and constant effort on legs. Continental Ice, Aconcagua.
Technical Aspect (T)
Technical (T)
The technical difficulty is mainly based on the terrain and the required skill level.
20%flat land
40%Trails with moderate ascents and descents. General trekking expeditions.
60%Steeper slopes and trails. Possible use of crampons.
80%Mixed terrain, with snow or ice. Alvear, Lanin, Tronador.
100%Highly technical terrain. Glacier travel and climbing in sections.
Psychological Strength (P)
Psycho (P)
Psychological factor that represents conviction, confidence, self-control and willpower.
20%We will not be much affected.
40%This is a normal level of attention.
60%We require more motivation, enthusiasm and concentration.
80%The activity will require us to be very connected and convinced.
100%Maximum control and emotional-psychological performance.
Height Exposure (A)
Altitude (A)
Factor that the height above sea level influences us depending on the activity.
0%+ sea level.
20%Up to 2000 masl.
40%+ 2000 masl.
60%+ 4000 masl.
80%+ 5000 masl.
100%+ 6000 masl.
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.
