Aconcagua: A Climbing Guide, Second Edition (Paperback)

~ (Author), Uma Kukathas (Author), Crystal Thomas (Author) "The Ayamara Indians, living in today's Province of Mendoza, named the mountain Kon-Kawa, or Snowy Mountain, while the Chilean Indians, the Araucanos, named the river..." (more)
Key Phrases: first ascent party, central buttress, upper glacier, Polish Glacier, Normal Route, Plaza de Mulas (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The only English-language guidebook to South America's highest mountain, featuring 27 routes from the three major approaches and thoroughly researched advice on lodging, permits, equipment, seasons, weather and more.

Reaching the highest summit in the Western hemisphere requires careful preparation and detailed instruction. R. J. Secor draws upon his extensive mountaineering experience to give climbers all that's necessary to top Aconcagua's 22,841-foot peak. This updated and revised guide features comprehensive information on recommended equipment, safety and health precautions, and conservation issues. It details both the popular and less-traveled routes reached via the Horcones Valley, South Face, and Vacas and Relinchos Valleys. Also included are a climbing history of Aconcagua and a glossary of valuable Spanish mountaineering phrases. With 50 b&w photos and maps.

About the Author

R. J. Secor, author of Mexico's Volcanoes and The High Sierra, Second Edition, has climbed extensively in western North America and has been as far afield as the Himalaya and the Karakoram. He resides in Pasadena, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 141 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books; 2 Sub edition (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898866693
• ISBN-13: 978-0898866698
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #87,519 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Books > Sports > Mountaineering > Excursion Guides
  #21 in	Books > Travel > Latin America > South America > Argentina
  #72 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Hiking & Camping > Walking

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very useful guide, March 16, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Boston, MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aconcagua: A Climbing Guide (Paperback)

A useful primer for those considering climbing Aconcagua. Describes routes of many different difficulty levels. If you are planning on doing the normal route, most of the book will be irrelevant since it describes more difficult and technical approaches. However, even the introduction and normal route description are valuable references. Especially the sections on health and safety concerns. Hopefully there will be a new edition for 1999 since I understand that in 1999-2000, Argentine regulations will require permits to purchased in Mendoza IN PERSON by those climbing -- a change from the current practice.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good intro, not enough about routes, February 12, 2003

By	Denis Benchimol Minev "Amazonia" (Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This book is a good intro to Aconcagua (history, geography, etc), it helps plan a trip with good tips on preparation and local arrangements. However, it does not spend enough time describing the trails and the difficulties of each route. Even the normal route, the most popular one, is not described in depth.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful book, but get the video too, August 11, 2000

By A Customer

Anyone thinking about this climb should get this book. It, along with the video that's also available from amazon.com, make a good combination to get you mentally prepared for Aconcagua.