23^Nov Thu
18:30

Dear Hiking Buddies,

Andes in South America are a great opportunity to get to higher elevation without the need of glacier equipment or very technical skills (it doesn't mean there is no snow, though!).

Within Andes everyone knows Aconcagua, which is the highest peak at 6.961 meters, but Nevado Ojos del Salado falls short of it by just 70 meters... This makes it the second highest peak in Andes, the highest Volcano in the world and almost the highest you can get without getting into the Himalayas.

It is considered an easy mountain, beyond the altitude issues, which only required walking up to the very last portion, where some easy scrambling / climbing is needed. 

And the best part is, is much much cheaper than Aconcagua!

It has been my dream to climb this mountain and I see a great opportunity here to make a group of motivated people and go together to make it happen. 

So here is the plan...

⚠️ ...PLAN IS WORK IN PROGRESS. SUGGESTIONS / COMMENTS ARE VERY WELCOMED...⚠️

(Please note I have given it a great deal of thought, also contacting local companies, looking for dates, flights and related stuff. Anyway it is recommended that you do your own research and evaluate the situation on your own).

WHEN

Ojos del Salado is usually climbed between November and March, and given Christmas, beginning of the year, etc.. I consider the best time is mid November. Then we are back to close all topics before Christmas.

Important: Overall holidays needed: 10 days.

Departure Day is Friday 10th of November in the afternoon

HOW

I have contacted a local company for the trek, which has good reputation, good reviews and good online presence. I have talked with the guide several times including by phone.

HOW MUCH

Flights: ca. 900 EUR

Trek to Ojos - 10 Days: ca. 750 EUR

Total: around 1.800 EUR 

Note that this is just an estimation as, for example, flight cost will vary. The cost is for a group of 5. Changes in group size will make the cost change.

PLAN DETAILS

Here below is an overall summary of the plan as of today. It includes some tourism time in Santiago (not a place you go all days), a couple of easy 4.000m+ peaks to acclimatize and the actual 10 Day trek to Ojos.

The idea is use 2 full weeks (and the weekend before) to be in Munich again Sunday morning.

We get back to work Monday with full energy and full jetlag 😛

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

High Altitude mountains are very demanding (myself I have done 2x Kilimanjaro and some others 5.000m+ peaks in Peru). Good fitness level is required and good motivation is a MUST.

It is also recommended (up to each one's risk) to get high altitude insurance and a cardio - check before the trip.

YouTube can show a bit of the experience: look for videos!

Going to the mountains, like any other adventure, is always risky; sometimes it might be life-threatening! 

Attendees are advised to read the full description, look into the route details and familiarize themselves to the point that they are going to hike on their own. 

If there is any unwanted and unfortunate incident happens, they are at this moment informed that they have to pay by themselves if the rescue team needs to be called (average cost 3,000 Euro). I am not a mountain guide, so it is not a guided tour. Each one is responsible of him/herself. The organizer is only responsible for taking care of the meeting point arrangement and sharing the travel cost, nothing else.