Summit Day Suffering on 23,000 ft. Aconcagua

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hp-jamesclashby James M. Clash for The Huffington Post

Argentina's giant Aconcagua, at 22,834 feet the highest mountain in the world outside Asia, is one of the famed "Seven Summits" and, as such, a coveted peak. If one ascends via the ruta normal, summit day involves scaling the notorious Canaletta, one of the most physically demanding challenges in all of climbing. With the South American mountaineering season starting soon, I thought it would be beneficial to share my own experience on that beast with prospective climbers. My advice: Be prepared!

CAMP BERLIN, 19,300 FEET: Suddenly it's morning, clear and cloudless for the first time in a week. I dress warmly with every piece of clothing I have -- the temperature is below zero and may drop as we move higher. By 11 a.m. we have reached the 21,000-ft. mark -- Independencia -- a bombed-out shell of an old hut serving no other purpose than to...Read full story

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