Ascent to Cerro Mercedario, San Juan

Cerro Mercedario is one of the four highest mountains of Cordillera de Los Andes. Reaching to its summit will be an experience you will never forget!

Andes

1 Day

Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec

Description

At 6720 m, Cerro Mercedario is one of the most important but unknown mountains of the Central Andes.

It is surrounded by four peaks: Pico Polaco, La Mesa, Alma Negra and La Ramada. That’s why it's impossible to see it from Colorado Valley, the campsite from where we start climbing.

The isolation and remoteness of Cerro Mercedario make this place a perfect mountain to live an adventure with the only company of nature.

ABOUT THE ASCENT

Our challenge will start in Alto Andina Village, in the Argentinian province of San Juan.

Then, a transfer will take us to Hornillas Superior, from where we'll start hiking through an easy trail during 4 hours.

We'll begin our acclimatization at a base camp at 3100 meters of height. After that, we'll head to Pirca de Placo, our next campsite at 4000 m.

Once we climb the unknown Southern side of the mountain, we will finally get to the summit of Cerro Mercedario.

Please contact me if you want to join me for this trip. Let's reach the summit of Cerro Mercedario together!

I organize many mountaineering trips around Argentina. You can check some of them, like this ascent to Ojos del Salado volcano.

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Transport during the trip

Details

More info

HOW TO GET THERE? You can arrive at Mendoza airport by plane and there, drive to Barreal across Uspallata. If you arrive at San Juan airport you have to drive through its capital city until you get to Calingasta (approximately 230 km)

ACCLIMATIZATION NEEDED A progressive ascent is required in order to prepare the body slowly. I will give you other tips about nutrition and hydration in order to be well acclimatized in such an altitude.

Meeting point

About the guide

Indio

4.9

(12)

Mountain Guide

I am an IFMGA and a High Mountain AAGM certified Mountain Guide. I was born in San Juan, where I found my passion for the mountains when I was a child. Today my home is El Chalten, this magical place where I have my family and where I work and live since 2008.

I have climbed many different peaks along the Andes, as well as in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, France, Spain, Germany Italy, Austria and Switzerland. I have climbed great mountains and new routes in Patagonia, both in Cerro Torre and in the Fitz Roy mountains. I climbed Mount Fitz Roy five times and Mount Torre three times. All of them through different routes and some of them opening a new one.

One of my biggest achievements was the Standhardt - Herron - Egger traverse and the "Directa Huarpe" new route, on the west face of Cerro Torre. As well as climbing the Tehuelche route on the Fitz Roy hill in 16 hours.

I also guide in the Central Andes, in places such as Cerro Mercedario and Vallecitos in Mendoza, among other mountains. I am also a Mountaineering and Climbing instructor in different associations and member of the relief committee at the Club Andino Mercedario of the San Juan Province. I am also a member of the technical committee of the Argentine Association of Mountain Guides, in which I am part of the staff of instructors for IFMGA guides.

I guide my clients mainly in Patagonia. I spend summer in the town of El Chalten and I move to Bariloche, in northern Patagonia, in the winter, where I guide more technical excursions, like ice and/or rock climbing, as well as classic mountaineering ascents. During the year I also guide in the mountains of Peru, Bolivia and in Europe.

Even when I’m not working I enjoy climbing, bouldering, sport skiing and mountaineering. Keeping at my highest level of performance helps me ensure my clients’ safety, that is always my top priority.

Languages

English

Certificates

AAGM | IVBV | UIAGM | IFMGA

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What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

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