The Aconcagua Park is organized and controlled so that all visitors entering, on one hand having services that help stay safe and on the other hand to prevent contamination or deterioration of the protected area.
During the climbing season, Aconcagua Park offers to climbers the following services: Ranger, Medical Service, Rescue Patrol and control of waste disposal, restrooms at base camps.
The Rangers are the official agents responsible for providing advice and information to visitors, environmental control and conservation of natural resources. They have the power of Police within the park and have the power to control the entry, sanctions and expel those who do not comply current standards. They can also receive complaints for non-compliance with regulations, and receive suggestions and contributions for the best operation and maintenance of the park.
Normal Route
– Station in Horcones entrance
– Confluencia intermediate Camp
– Plaza de Mulas Base Camp
– Nido de Cóndores High Camp
Polish Route
– Quebrada de Vacas entrance
– Pampa de Leñas
– Casa de Piedra
– Plaza Argentina Base Camp
During the season a free service of prevention and medical care works in Confluence, Plaza de Mulas and Plaza Argentina camps. Visitors are recommended to perform a health check on arrival at the camp as well as appear before any symptoms of mountain sickness, or any other ailment or discomfort.
For your safety you should follow the recommendations of the medical staff.
The coordination of movements arranged by the Medical Service will be in charge of Rangers, and include the descent of climbers from base camps to Horcones and if necessary, transfer to the Uspallata Hospital or medical center to be adviced.
The evacuation can be made on mule or helicopter according to the severity of the case, availability of resources, weather and visibility conditions or provisions for medical personnel, or in his absence by the ranger in charge of the operation.
Normal Route
– Confluencia intermediate Camp
– Plaza de Mulas Base Camp
– Nido de Cóndores High Camp
Polish Route
– Quebrada de Vacas entrance
– Plaza Argentina Base Camp
The need for evacuation by this means will be determined by the attending medical staff through the appropriate referral, or in his absence by the Head of Department or ranger in charge of the operation.
Are considered serious or emergency evacuations those that seriously compromise the life or physical safety of climbers, being necessary to perform them quickly. These include: severe edema (EAP), freezes 2nd and 3rd grade and heart problems, among others.
Are considered routine evacuations those in which patients have not compromised the life or physical integrity, but require some assistance or hospital must descend for psychological reasons. These include: mild acute mountain sickness (AMS), first-degree frostbite, blisters, panic attacks, people with exhaustion or dehydration, elderly in poor condition, including early pulmonary and cerebral edema. They shall be conducted by helicopter as long as seats are available.
If there are no seats available, the affected party must request a “mule sillera” to your service provider or must descend walking accompanied by their peers.
• The evacuation will take place from the point of origin to enter the Park in the ravines of Horcones or Vacas, where patients will derive an ambulance or transfer unit accordingly.
• In exceptional cases it may make patient transport to the city of Mendoza, the medical service only when instructed to do so with the express permission of the Head of Department or his replacement in office.
• All costs for helicopter evacuation ordered by the medical service, as well as those relating to transportation and medical services outside the park, borne by the evacuated.
You are reminded mountaineers performing or practicing activities in extreme conditions (ascent to the South wall, Polish Glacier, paragliding, hang gliding, extreme skiing), they will be liable for any special expenses that accrue to medical care or evacuations accident, as well as the extra costs generated by their search and rescue, if feasible and performed by ambulance and hospital expenses.
Aconcagua Park has a Rescue Patrol that belongs to the Mendoza Police whose aim is the search and rescue of people who in an emergency situation require the assistance of this group of highly trained mountaineers. The Patrol works solely on the Normal Route of Aconcagua, carrying out searches and evacuations to the Medical Service of Aconcagua Park located in base camp. Here there is a place for coordinating the necessary actions to remove the person in danger to the exit of the Park for medical treatment.
It is important for those who visit Mount Aconcagua to know that the Rescue Patrol is not a service that you will not find included among those provided within Aconcagua Park, however, they work in serious situations that require their presence. Also, visitors should know that due to the fact that the Polish Glacier Route like those you will find on the South Wall is considered of high risk level, the Rescue Patrol will not operate there. Climbers who choose these routes must take all the precautions to endure emergency situations on their own. In any case, Park Rangers are in permanent radio listening for eventual help calls on the frequency 142.8 MHZ FM.
The climbers will be provided with a bag numbered each three people, and an individual polybag for each person. They must be returned to Park Rangers with the waste produced at discharge Park.
Climbers can delegate the evacuation of waste to service providers. They must present proof of acceptance by the lender on the exit permit. The provider is responsible for this bag before removal of the Park.
Failure to comply with regulations for the disposal of waste, sanctions will be applied
corresponding dictated by the enforcement authority.
Visitors should hire the restrooms to service providers. No person can stay in the camp without contracting it.
In the high camps is mandatory the use of bags designed for fecal matter that must be delivered to the Corps of Rangers at the base camp to return.
You are reminded that the use of these bags contributes significantly to the maintenance and conservation camps.