Featured Trek: Aconcagua summit trek, with Jagged Globe

Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside of the Himalaya. At 6,959m, the 1000m climb from high camp to the summit is notoriously tough.

The unrelenting, lung-busting Canaleta, a steep scree-filled gully, is the physical, emotional and mental crux for many who attempt to reach the top. However, there is no technical climbing on the Horcones Route, and no ropes are required, just experience using crampons and an ice axe. This means that if you’re fit and determined, it’s possible to have a shot.

With strong leadership and a reasonable level of support from local Argentine guides and porters, aspiring mountaineers can test their performance at high altitude. In short, if you’re extremely fit and are looking for a tough mountaineering experience, but haven’t done much climbing, then Aconcagua is an amazing challenge.