The Tupungato is the last big mountain south to the Central Andes, for its particular situation, it is also a bordering point. Although, during century principle it has experienced a lot of activity, today in day, this giant's oriental slope almost dropshot in the forgetfulness, this makes to the very few expeditions which gets through the valley of the Santa Clara, to have such experience as it was fifty years ago, when practically nobody went into in the mountains for pleasure. Doubtless it is an excellent place for lovers of the hiking and crowded free valleys, and places where wilderness sightseen are a part of a daily routine.
The climb doesn't have technical path, except for a very few ones that easily our guides protect using all the skills they had been trained for.

Expedition Itinerary

Day1: Members should arrive to the airport, where an AEA Expeditions representative shull be waiting for your convenience, to be shure you´ll get the right hotel at the right time. During late afternoon we use to enjoy a welcome brew with the whole group. After completing the equipment checks, we enjoy a group "welcome" dinner in Mendoza and good night's sleep after a long day of traveling.
Day2: Near midday, we leave Mendoza towars the Tupungato village. The town lies 50km to the south of Mendoza capital, right at the bottom of the Silver range, and its mainly activity is the fruit production.
From the town itself, where we will get the last suplies, and and join the muleteers, we will drive taking a secondary road, to get the refuge, where we will spend the night delighting us with a typical barbecue.
Day 3: Begining of the trekking, we will walk up on the Santa Clara Valley, untill the three valleys cross. Our loads are going to be carried by mules, which makes the walk much more easy, as well as less time demanding. We will just carry our daily gear, water and food.
Day 4: Move up to the Sulfur Saddle bottom basecamp.
Day 5: Carry loads up to the top of the saddle, and return to basecamp for overnight, where a huge dinner will give us the necesary staminade to recover the energy we spend during the day.
Day 6: Programmed resting day, to adecuate our body to altittude efects. Knowing the campsite is not a great place to spend a whole day, we will make a sidetrip, on demand, to get some good shots.
Day 7: Early depart to be able to get the top of the saddle as soon as we can, and take the way down through the scree and, if possible, reach the proper basecam at late afternoon. The base camp, is rarely visited, which allow us to enjoy the mountain in a complete isolated condittions, as 50 years ago, thing which every single year we past becomes more a more hard to have chances to experience.
Day 8: Resting day. We will finish to set the campsite.
From our place, we will be able to see the Tupungato´s valley, which follows down the valley, up to Punta de Vacas, close to Aconcagua, but almost impossible to walk through, cause years ago landslides.
Day 9: We carry loads up to Camp 1, and return to basecamp for overnight.
Day 10: Move up to camp 1 for overnight.
Day 11: Move up to camp 2 for overnight.
Day 12: Summit day!! Wheather permits. We normally departs early about 5 o clock, at least, all the members will be walking, and excited in the dark of night, the most important day of the whole trip use to begins before sunrise and finishes at 5 in the afternoon.
Day 13: Contingency day in case of bad weather.
Day 14: Walk out to basecamp.
Day 15: Cross over the saddle, and descend up to the bottom, where we will gather the crue and Mules to help us on the way out to home.
Day 16: Walk out to Tupungato, transfer to Mendoza, and celebrattion dinner with all the team. Hotel Acomodattion.

Land cost includes

Two hotel nights accommodation in Mendoza, breakfast included
One refuge night accommodation in Tupungato full board included.
Transfer Mendoza - Tupungato - Mendoza
Transfer from Tupungato - Refuge - Tupungato.
All the meals during the mountain itinerary.
Complete common Equipment (Sleeping tents, cooking gear ,stoves)
Mules transfer equipment until 20 kg. each person way up and back.

Personal equipment
Extra expenses to desert itinerary or in case of a rescue
Porters
Transport charges equipment exceeding 20 kg.
Travel insurance.
Extra food and beverages.

General information

Plan well in advance - you are going to attempt a mayor peak, so, allow you time to think about it. One of the most important aspects of the climbing begins before the trip, and it´s self confidence.
Check out and read carefully everyone of the items we will require you , they are not there cause we just wanna bother you in finding them, they are essential!!!! You can hire some gear from us at a reasonably cost, or in a specialized shop, let us to help you in this duty, and ask about what you doubt, we will be looking after you for a long time, and it comprehends the period of pre departure.
You are in holidays!!!! Sometimes we have to take dramatic decisions during a expeditions in terms of orienting attention of people who are not focused properly, due to working issues. Remember, let your mind and soul flight and avoid to be plugged, only like this you will feel the experience as a whole and enjoy what you are doing.
Build up your fitness routine throughout your trip preparations. Self prepare your mind for the challenging times you will experience. As a general rule, the people who are specting more demanding challenges than they really are, do not reduce they stamina as soon as the hard times arose.
Pack your luggage with ample time before departure and in one final process so nothing is overlooked, nor extraneous items brought along.
Maintain your humor sense during all the expeditions, it will help everyone as we all work better in a good environment. AEA Expeditions will be keeping you and solving all the logistics items for you, so, relax and enjoy your expedition.

Hot to get Mendoza City?

By plane

Two airlines does actually operate the route to Mendoza Internattional Airport, from cities like Buenos Aires, Cordoba, San Juan, and Santiago (CHILE). There is a minimum of two flights per day, up to five, so, check out the day you are planning to get the city, and re confirm your tickets by telephone 72 hs Beforehand It´s free and saves you of getting a headache, specially during holidays time, and celebrations like Christmas.
You can get special prices if you get your tickets 15 days in advance, so, consider it as a good chance to save money that you may spend in getting some of the hundred delicious varieties of wines to gift your family or friends!!!

From Buenos Aires

http://www.aerolineas.com.ar
http://www.Lan.com

From Santiago de Chile

http://www.Lan.com

By bus or highway

The highways between Buenos Aires and Mendoza are in very good conditions, and signaled, anyway, depending on the route you are planning, check out the conditions. The roads in Argentine are not as bad as other South American countries, although they are far away of some western standards, specially in terms of assistance.

From Buenos Aires, there are about 1200km, which could be covered within one day. Anyway we do not suggest such a long journeys like this cause it involves a risk we do not accept at all. Take 2 or three days, and enjoy the great places on the way, having a good perception of what pampa means, and the incredible little mountains of Cordoba or San Luis...
From Santiago de Chile, you drive straightaway into Mendoza, crossing the stunning Andes through the Cristo Redentor Check In point, next to the Aconcagua sightseeing point. It takes, in bus around 8 Hours. (200km, and customs.

We expect form you to get this following gear list

During the Walk In ( Approach)
Long shirt
Long trekking trousses
Sun Hat and neck shade cover
Walking poles ( highly recomendable)
Trekking boots waterproof and breathable recommendable.
An extra pair of socks

Head gear
Balaclava
Fleece cap ( Biny)
Fleece neckless

Hands
Fleece or windstopper gloves 1 pair min
Liner thin gloves
Mitons and Gore tex or similar one, over mits.

Note: It´s definytely not alowed to bring gloves and overmits.

Torso
Capilene, thermax, or polipropylene liner top. 1 pair minimun
Two fleece jumpers( 1 polartec 200 or 300 and 1 windstopper).
Down jacket 500g down filled recommendable
Shell jacket

Legs
Capilene, thermax, or polipropylene liner bottom. 1 pair minimun
Fleece trousses
Shell trousses

Foot
Expedition Socks: 2 pairs min
Liner socks (Hidrofill, or similar): Idem
Plastic doble Boots or triple ones (highly recommendable supergaiters)
Gaiters (long ones) If not supergaiters

Hardware
Crampons ( semiautomatic recommendable)
Ice Axe (long regular one) with wrist strap
Head Torch (dual LEDaynd regular one recommendable)
Sun glases (a very good ones) They must to be category 4.
Sun glases ( good ones ) as an extra pair
Googles.
Expedition Kitbag. (Duffel)
Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle 3/4 or 1 Lt recomendable.
Two bottles of policarbonate 2lts cap in between
Backpack at least 90 + 10 Lts of volume.
A swiss knife or multi use twezels
A lighter

Accesories
Personal hygiene kit
Personal First aid kit.
Sun Screen SPF 40 Or higher.
Alarm Waterproof watch.

Sleeping gear
Sleeping bag 1kg Down
Rubber Sleeping Mattress

Documentation
Passport and/orID

Optional equipment(*)
Walkman
satelital phone
a towel to use at basecamp
Pen and notebook
Film camera
Video camera
Gps
A pair of strapp sandals