Milestone 1 Details
Let's get started!
Milestone 1. Welcome to Aconcagua: Approach to Confluencia
So you’ve decided to climb Aconcagua and here you are, at the end of the pavement about to enter the Aconcagua Provincial Park through the Horcones Trailhead at 9,692ft. This is the easy, warmup part of any Aconcagua climbing expedition: all you’ve got to do is to get yourself to the first approach camp which is aptly named “Confluencia” (The Confluence) for its location at the confluence of two glacial streams. To reach Confluencia at 11,234ft above sea level you have to cover 1,868ft in vertical ascent. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and climb that mountain (or stairs!)!
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EXTRA INFO ON MILESTONE #1
For Aconcagua expedition climbers, the hike to Confluencia is sometimes a rude awakening: it looks easy on paper, what with moderate elevation gain over the course of a distance of 4.3 miles - but the altitude, heat and dust often catch first-timers by surprise.
The trick to set yourself up for a successful climb, both on the ground in the Andes and for this virtual challenge, is simple: pace yourself. Climbing Aconcagua is the mountain equivalent of a marathon, not a sprint — slow and steady gets it done.
Confluencia is a semi-permanent tent city of outfitter, kitchen and sleeping domes with notoriously mineral-laden drinking water. Reaching Confluencia (or “Conflu” as the locals call it) means one thing: you’re officially committed to your Aconcagua climb now.
Bonus challenge: Mileage isn’t the essential challenge on an Aconcagua climb — it is the elevation gain coupled with how heavy your essential climbing & survival gear is, plus of course dealing with high altitude and extreme weather conditions. We can’t simulate altitude or weather for you in this virtual challenge, but we can introduce you to Aconcagua-style load carries!
Expedition climbers typically only carry “light” day-packs to Confluencia — with water, snacks, layers, a medical kit, and personal items, plus whatever gear exceeds the climber’s mule cargo allotment of 20kg (44lbs). For extra credit, complete Milestone #1 while carrying two gallons of water (~17lbs) which is a realistic estimate of how heavy an expedition climber’s pack would be on this first part of the Aconcagua expedition.
*Sunny's story about Confluencia: remember how we said that Confluencia is notorious for it's mineral-laden drinking water? Unfortunately, the mineral content of the water can create quite a bit of added challenge for climbers with susceptible GI tracts. I personally have never had an issue but in 2017, we had a photographer along who was there to document my and my friend Libby's attempt to set a new speed record on the Normal Route. Said photographer did have a susceptible GI tract, and the water did such a number on him that he ended up pooping his pants! Not an auspicious start to any mountain adventure...*
