Nevado de Pissis expedition - High mountaineering - ascent to summit - Catamarca

An expedition to try to reach the main summit of the 3rd highest mountain in America

  • Start Date : 2025-Mar-09
    End Date: 2025-Mar-24
  • Hora Inicio: 14pm
    Hora Fin: 21pm
  • Meeting Point:Fiambala, Catamarca.
    End point: Fiambala, Catamarca.
  • Duration:15 days
    Availability: 4 spots
US$ 2430 US$ 1950.- 20 % Off

Special price booking until 08 de January!

Nevado Pissis - expedition to the 3rd highest in America

Proposal

The white summit of the Puna

Located in the renowned and region of Catamarca, although more isolated than the rest, the roof of the Andes and in the route of the six thousand (where there is the largest population of mountains that exceed 6,500 meters in height and many that exceed 6,000 ), this gigantic volcano is the second highest in the world, is an increasingly visited and admired destination.

The Pissis is the king of the Puna. Is stands in the middle og one of the most unexplored areas in the world, and one that has barely seen a person pass through trroughout history. All this makes Pissis an icon of exploration mountaineering  and with it one of the most interesting mountains in the Andes. 

ITINERARY: 

Day 01: Fiambalá, 1550 masl. Meeting in the Catamarcan - Fiambala at middly day. Chek In. Presentation with guides and coordinators. Free afternoon to enjoy the hot springs and the place. 

Day 02: Cortaderas, 3300 masl. Free morning in Fambala. In the afternoon we will travel along National Route 60 to Chaschuil and then to Cortaderas, To a hostel, enjoying the landscape that begins to give us views of the mountains.  TFree afternoon to rest, hydrate and continue acclimatization. Dinner and overnight in shelter.

Day 03: Cortaderas, 3300 masl. We will dedicate this day to trekking with a small ascent to a hill in the area, Chaschuil, of 3700mts. Whoever needs or wants to stay down, to continue resting, will be able to do so. Hydration, dinner and night.

Día 04: Las Grutas, 4000 masl. Transfer to the shelters of Las Grutas. Here we enter the zone where height can be felt. Short walk through the area to continue acclimatization. Hydration, dinner and overnight in shelter.

Day 05: Las Grutas, 4000 masl. This day we star a new trekking to a hill  Falso Morocho,  4.700 mts. Return to the shelter. Hydration, dinner and overnight.

Day 06: Summit and Fiambala. Very Early, We began our attempt to reach the summit of the San Francisco Volcano 6036 masl. as our first objective. Transfer at 5100 masl. and then a long journey to the summit. Then we get on vehicles and descend to Fiambalá. Night in hostel accommodation in Fiambalá.

Day 07: Breakfast and rest in Fiambalá: Hot springs, relax and recover energy. 

Day 08: La Coipa and transfer to base camp (4600 masl). Transfer . The landscapes until reaching the base camp are amazing, with lagoons, valleys and immense mountains; the most unexplored landscape of the Puna. Armed base camp, called Mar del Plata. Short walk through the area to continue acclimatization. Hydration, dinner and overnight.

Day 9: This day we go to C1 at 5300 masl. but we ruturn to sleep at BC.

Day 10: Ascent to C1, sleep there. This day we have 4 hours of activity.

Day 11:  Rest in C1, and overnight there. This day it is posible to leave the equioment to C2. Rest, Hydration and preparation.

Day 12: Ascent to C2 at 5900masl, overnight there. Five hours of activity. 

Day 13:  This day we are going to try the Pissis Volcano´s summit. Night in C2, Approximately 12 hours of activity. 

Day 14: Descent to the vehicles, Transfer to Fiambala, and end the trip and services. This day we have approximately 4 hours in descend and 3 hours for transfer. 

Day 15: An extra day in case of bad weather or particular conditions. Or use of one more night in high altitude camp.

Included Services

Services included

  • Certificate of summit and participation in the expedition.
  • Preparation and advice on training throughout the year (specific material to train on your own).
  • Special discount on training groups in the city of Buenos Aires.
  • Professional mountain guides.
  • Transfers from Fiambala to Las Grutas refuge. (Going). 2 times
  • Transfers from Las Grutas refuge to Fiambala. (Lap). 2 times
  • 4 nights accommodation in a hostel in Fiambalá
  • 2 nights in hostel in Cortaderas.
  • 2 noches en refugio en Las Grutas
  • Nights in high mountain tents (remaining)
  • Technical safety material, VHF radios, mountain first aid kit.
  • Heaters and kitchen elements.
  • Sleeping tents throughout the expedition.
  • Satelital phone.
  • Full board (all meals) throughout the expedition: breakfast, energy, lunch, snack, dinner.
  • Permanent assistance.

Services NOT included

Services NOT included

  • Tips
  • Personal Equipment (check list request)
  • Transfers from Fiambala to the city of origin of each passenger. (Ask for ticket issuance).
  • Meals in Fiambala

Photo and Video Gallery


Where do you sleep

Where do you sleep?

in hostels with basic amenities and high mountain tents.

Faq

Faq

If I have never climbed  a mountain, can I dream of reaching this summit ?

As long as you are physically fit and you can take previous trekking and mountaineering trips with us or on your own. In case your experience is basic , it is essential that you take a long or two short trip to summits higher than 4000 m.a.s.l.

I do not have the equipment that is required, can I rent it? What should I buy?

We will advise you on this. Almost everything can be rented. There is equipment that should be purchased as underwear, footwear and trekking clothes, trekking poles, headlamp, gloves ,among others.

How demanding is this expedition? How much do we walk per day?

We do not walk every day. The expedition length is due to the period of acclimatization to the height that our bodies need; there are days when we only rest.

Where do we spend the night?

 

In Fiambalá and Cortaderas. Mountain refuge in Las Grutas and then in high mountain tents.

Do we have to carry a tent?

Tents are included in the service.

What is the minium age to be part of the expedition?

18 years old  

How much does the backpack weigh?

Between 8 - 12 kilos to the base camp. 15 kilos from the base camp (except on the summit day.  That day we will be carrying only water,food and headlamp.

Is there porter service?

No. In this isolated mountain, porting must be done by ourselves.

What do we eat?

In all our expeditions we provide the meals service ON FULL BOARD

  • Cold meals/Lunches: Milanesa (tradional Argentine beef cut)  and tomato sandwiches,  sandwiches, snacks, salads, tapas, etc.
  • Dinners: Vegetable stews-bacon-red chorizo, chicken and vegetable casseroles, pasta with various sauces or stew, roasted meat, Chaw Fan, chicken with rice , pizzas ....
  • Breakfasts and snacks: Tea, Coffee, Cappuccino, Mate Cocido, Mate, Milk powder; bread, cookies, jam, honey, dulce de leche; cereals, fruit.
  • Individual bag with energetic snacks: Nougats, bars, nuts, chocolates, alfajores, candies, others ...

It is necessary to complete the personal / medical file to clarify if you have any special diet

Difficulty graduation

Mochila: Peso / Duración de la Jornada.

Exigencia Física

Técnico: Dificultad en el Terreno / Equipo.

Fortaleza Psicológica

Exposición a la Altura

Backpack (M)

This point has to do with the weight that we must carry in our backpacks. Trekkings or crossings where we have pack animals allow us to bear less weight on our backs. And the multi-day journeys in Patagonia (without the option of having pack mules) generally make us carry more weight, especially in the early days.

20% Up to 5 Kilos: Short excursion walks / Trekking Talampaya

40% Up to 8/10 Kilos: Round-trip trekking / Vallecitos 3 and 4-day programs

60% Up to 12/15 kilos: Crossing trekking with porting / Crossing of the Andes Paso Portillo

80% More than 15/18 kilos: Cross-country trekkings with little or no portage / Trekkings in Patagonia (Paso Vuriloche, PN Lanin or Nahuel Huapi, etc)

100% More than 25 Kilos: With a lot of equipment on top and little or no porting / Continental Ice

Physical (F)

We consider physical demands to the wear that we can suffer both aerobic (climbs = possible shortness of breath) and muscle (resistance = many hours walking) and of legs and joints (descents = knees / ankles).

20% half a day or less with little unevenness.

40% more sustained slopes and longer days in the activity. 2-3 days / more than 6 hours per day.

60% Long ascents and descents with a longer duration. Ascents to more than 4000 meters in the central mountain range / intense 4-day trekking (Uruguayan plane)

80% Important work of legs in resistance. Very long days. Very long day ascents (Lanin - Domuyo) or more than 5000 meters. Ice courses.

100% Maximum demand. Aerobic work and constant effort on legs. Continental Ice, Aconcagua, mountains of more than 6000 meters.

Technical (T)

The technical difficulty is mainly based on the terrain. How much can it cost us to climb a slope, if it is very steep or if we have to use our hands in some section (simple climbing), both in rock and snow-ice, or materials such as crampons and pegs in other ascents.

20% flat land

40% trails with moderate ups and downs. General crossing trekkings . Sierra de la Ventana, Córdoba, Patagonia, Cuyo, north, others. Classic ascents

60% Steeper slopes and trails. Possible use of crampons. Domuyo, Cordón del Plata, Cordillera Central.

80% Mixed terrain, with snow or ice. Alvear, Lanin, Tronador. Bolivia, Peru.

100% Highly technical terrain. Glacial transit and climbing in sections. Hill climbing with sections on slopes of more than 60 ° inclination

Psycho (P)

We maintain that this point, the psychological factor, represents a relevant factor. Each one needs a factor of conviction, confidence, self-control and will power to achieve a goal. And depending on the attitude with which we face distances, slopes, terrain and many other objective factors, we can achieve performance with very different results.

20% We will not be much affected.

40% This is a normal level of attention.

60% We require more motivation, enthusiasm and concentration.

80% The activity will require us to be very connected and convinced.

100% Maximum control and emotional-psychological performance.

Adventures (A)

It is the factor that, the height above sea level, influences us depending on the activity we carry out. Managing and overcoming symptoms caused by altitude is the key to this point

0% + sea level.

20% Up to 2000 masl.

40% + 2000 masl.

60% + 4000 masl.

80% + 5000 masl.

100% + 6000 masl.

Gradual Adventure Activity Difficulty System designed by Leandro Scheurle.
Copyright Argentinaxtrema.com © 2009. All rights reserved.

Required equipment

GENERAL EQUIPMENT

  • Backpack for trekking (70 to 90 liters)
  • Large Bag  (90 or more liters). It wiil be carried by the mules
  • Warm sleeping bag (-15 comfort degrees, eg 1000gms of feather or synthetic good).
  • Insulated sleeping pad (10 to 15mm).
  • Inflatable insulating mattress (optional) 

FOOT WEAR

  • High mountain boots (synthetic or plastic double boots)
  • Trekking shoes 
  • Light trekking shoes (trail-running type)

BASE LAYER

  • Underwear.
  • Cotton shirts (to be in the camp and to sleep)
  • T-shirts and / or short-sleeved synthetic shirts
  • Synthetic shirts with long sleeves
  • Pants or leggings made of polypropylene or similar (not cotton). To wear as warm indoor pants
  • Thin gloves made of polypropylene or similar (not cotton)
  • Fleece cap
  • Pairs of synthetic thin socks (not cotton)
  • Buff neck 

MIDDLE LAYER 

  • Trekking socks (synthetic-thermal)
  • thick mountain socks
  • cotton or wool socks ( wool is for sleeping)
  • 2 long trekking pants
  • Shorts
  • Sweatshirt (Fleece 100 or Fleece 200)
  • Thin - Feather duvet jacket
  • Thick feather-duvet jacket
  • Fleece gloves (with fingers)
  • Sun hat

 OUTER LAYER 

  • Waterproof jacket - parka (gore tex or similar)
  • Pants cover (gore tex or similar)
  • Waterproof and breathable gloves
  • Ski gloves 
  • Mountain gaiters

 TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT

  • Crampons (possible to rent)
  • Climbing helmet
  • Trekking poles

 PERSONAL ELEMENTS 

  • Passport, ID card, ID.
  • Medical insurance
  • Medical and personal information completed, authorization.
  • Permit  printed for payment.

 MISCELLANEOUS

  • FRONTAL flashlight with batteries (with spare batteries)
  • Sturdy plastic bags for storing clothes.

HEALTH & HYGIENE

  • Sun glasses with UV protection Category 4
  • Spare lenses (can be goggles, highly recommended)
  • Personal first-aid kit (medication with the relevant recipe)
  • Sunscreen , Lip balm
  • Soap, shampoo (small) and small towel.
  • Toilet paper. Baby wipes.

KITCHEN ITEMS

  • Containers to drink water, for at least 4 liters (2 bottles of 1 liter and 1 bag of hydration with hose of 2 lt.)
  • Small thermos
  • Personal dishes: Plate, glass / jug, cutlery

 OPTIONAL, not mandatory (check space and weight)

  • SILVER TAPE for blisters and repairs
  • Mini - sewing kit
  • Binoculars. Camera or video equipment
  • Book, travel diary, pencil, pen

Rental Equipment

Trekking sleeping bag

Booking in Advance

US$ 16 + options

Pair of Trekking Poles

Booking in Advance

US$ 10 + options

Rental mittens

Booking in Advance

US$ 8 + options

Pair of Crampons

Booking in Advance

US$ 15 + options

Rental : helmet, crampons and ice ax

Booking in Advance

US$ 36 + options

Combo Top: helmet, crampons, ice ax and full harness

Booking in Advance

US$ 50 + options

Category 3 sunglasses - Shepra Julbo Spectrom

Booking in Advance

US$ 5 + options

Backpack for trekking and mountaineering - Woman

Booking in Advance

US$ 10 + options

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