Cordón del Plata Dawn, #8 (Cerro Plata Postcard!), Mendoza, Argentina, 2019
This post is for those who are passing through Mendoza, Argentina and might be looking for a mountaineering challenge in the high Andes (and maybe even set a personal altitude record!) but for whom Aconcagua might be a double boot step too far at the moment.
Here are some highlights:
—Cerro Plata is a near 6,000-meter peak–indeed, some older documents still give it an altitude of just over 6,000 meters. That’s a big peak! Denali, in Alaska, is just 800-feet higher.
–From the City of Mendoza, you can climb it in 3 to 9 days depending on your fitness level and how much you need to acclimate (and weather conditions!). Back in the summer of 1996-1997, I think our total time invested in the ascent was five days, heading out as we did with a good forecast.
–6,000 meters seems to be the cut-off for acclimatization planning (my experience, and what locals say). That is, below that altitude, many very fit folks can get away with a three to four-day ascent of an Andean peak. Above that altitude, even fitter climbers typically need to slow it down and spend some days acclimating with easy hikes, carries to higher camps, or just resting.
–Typical altitude progression: Mendoza (747m, 2,449′), Vallecitos (2,900m, 9,514′), El Salto (4,400m, 14,426′), Summit of El Plata (5,958m, 19,580′). How much time you spend camping/hiking in the Vallecitos-El Salto zone to acclimate is up to you and how well you play in thin air.
–The trail to the summit is basically a good hiking trail–all you really might want are sturdy/solid/warm boots and trekking poles, along with your usual high mountain clothing, food/water, and the ten essentials. This is assuming good weather and summer conditions, of course. Some might wear double boots, but not strictly necessary in the peak of summer. It’s not much different from, say, hiking up a 14er like Mt. Elbert in Colorado–except you’ll breathe a helluva lot harder and Plata is a multi-day adventure (and bad weather can be really bad!).
–If you go spring or fall, you may need double boots, crampons, axe, etc. The trail generally follows fairly low-angled terrain, but there are avalanche prone areas and snowfields you may have to cross. A winter climb would be quite serious. If my brain cells recall correctly, we went in January and there was no need for traction of any kind as the trail was almost totally melted out.
–There are many sub-peaks that surround El Plata that make for good, shorter acclimatization trips.
–Access to the Vallecitos trailhead from Mendoza is quick and easy on decent roads–maybe a 1 1/2 hour drive at most (80km).
–El Plata is a very common warm-up peak prior to attempting Aconcagua. (As we did: Aconcagua, 1997, with Gary Weesner and Tom Pendley).
–You could climb the peak on your own (as we did) but, if you do, a solid command of Spanish would be very helpful to figure things out, ask questions, etc. If in doubt, just go through one of the trekking agencies (like the one I mention below).
Sample Itinerary, Cerro El Plata
This is a sample itinerary from a local trekking company (Lanin Turismo y Aventura) in the Mendoza area in which they give you plenty of time to acclimate. Time to practice your high school Spanish!
Día 1: Encuentro en Mendoza capital a primera hora de la tarde para conocerse entre todos, revisar equipo y evacuar las últimas dudas.
Día 2: Salida desde Mendoza en vehículo personalizado que nos llevará directamente a Vallecitos (2900 mts.) ubicado en el Cordón del Plata. Este día se pernocta en el refugio Mausy, y se hará una pequeña caminata para comenzar la aclimatación. Cena.
Dia 3: Ascenso al Cerro San Bernardo 4200 mts, regreso al refugio Mausy. Proceso de aclimatación.
Día 4: Salida por la mañana después del desayuno rumbo a las Cadenitas, siguiendo el proceso de aclimatación. Cena y pernocte en refugio Mausy.
Día 5: Un buen desayuno por la mañana nos reconfortará para poder continuar ascendiendo para llegar a “El Salto” (4400 mts.) lugar óptimo para instalar nuestro campamento base, tiempo estimado unas 4 a 5 horas. Cena.
Día 6: Desayuno, día de descanso y aclimatación. Breve caminata por la zona.
Día 7: Desayuno y muy temprano, por la madrugada 4.00 AM, comienzo de la ascensión al Cerro El Plata (6000 m.s.n.m.) el cual demandará más de 8 horas de ascenso y unas 5 horas de descenso al campamento. Cena.
Día 8: Desayuno. Desarmaremos el campamento para emprender el descenso hasta la zona de los refugios donde nos aguarda el transporte que nos llevará de vuelta a Mendoza.
Día 9: Preveer un día adicional para aclimatación o por malas condiciones climáticas.
Three autumn views of “Cerro Plata”, as they say here)…
Leaving Mendoza, near the suburb of Chacras de Coria, you get the first views of the peak:
Cerro Plata Gold, #3, Mendoza, Argentina, 2019
A vineyard (and telephoto) view from the rural Vistalba area of a cloud-draped Plata after the first major snowstorm of fall:
Luigi Bosca Vineyards, #25, Mendoza, Argentina, 2019
Going wide-angle, here is a sunrise on El Plata from Ruta 7 enroute from Mendoza to Potrerillos. The red-banded low ridge is called Cerro Cocodrilo (Crocodile Mountain) by some locals:
Cordón del Plata Dawn, #2, Mendoza, Argentina, 2019
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