By Fin O'Driscoll for IrishTimes.comACONCAGUA AT 6,962m is the highest mountain in the world outside of the Himalayan range and is the second highest of the seven summits next to Mount Everest (8,848m). Almost 150 climbers have died on the mountain since 1926 and six people died this season including four in mid February when I was acclimatising and preparing for a summit attempt with a group of 12 other climbers.
Aconcagua, the “Stone Sentinel”, is close to the border with Chile, 200km west of Mendoza and it stands over 1,500 metres higher than any neighbouring peaks. It is prone to severe and unpredictable weather, including violent high altitude winds and regular chill factor temperatures as low as -50 degrees.
I have been on several mountaineering expeditions and have summited Mount Elbrus (5,650m) in Russia, Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Tanzania, several Alpine peaks including Mont Blanc (4,808m) and Chuckung Ri (5,400m) in Nepal. I have also trekked extensively in the Atlas mountains and to Everest Base Camp in Tibet.
Arriving in Mendoza in early February, I joined the team for a guided three-week expedition with local company Aymara. The group included nine Europeans and four..Read full article
