Balcony of six thousand - Trekking and exploration - Higher than the Condors - San Juan

Trekking to viewpoint of 6 hills of more than 6000 meters.

  • Start Date : 2025-Mar-03
    End Date: 2025-Mar-09
  • Hora Inicio: 10 am
    Hora Fin: 5 pm
  • Meeting Point:Barreal, Calingasta, San Juan
    End point: Barreal, Calingasta, San Juan
  • Duration:7 days
    Availability: 15 spots
US$ 1060 US$ 850.- 20 % Off

Special price booking until 08 de January!

Turquesa Stream and Balcony of six thousand Trekking, Mercedario, San Juan

Proposal

The mountains that live in the indelible memory of an expedition that made many of us dream


An adventure in the heart of one of the most extraordinary high mountain corners of the Andes Mountains. As in the historic expedition of the Poles in 1934, which inspired the mountaineer Victor Ostrowsky (a member of the aforementioned expedition) to write one of the (if not the most) important mountaineering books in Argentina, when they crowned 5 of the 6 summits. of more than 6,000 meters that are found here, including Mercedario (6,701 meters above sea level), one of the 13 mountains more than 6,500 meters high in America, just 100 km north of Aconcagua.

We invite you to live an adventure on foot to observe, almost within reach, these colossi that decorate the Main Andes Mountains in a thousand colors. A region that also moved General San Martin, when he carried out the feat of crossing into Chile, with one of his armies, through the Los Patos Pass.

Itinerary

Day 1: Barreal - 1650 masl. Meeting in the town of Barreal, San Juan, in the afternoon-evening.  Presentation of guides, equipment check, Last shopping. Accommodation in a cabin.

Day 2: Barreal-Laguna Blanca - Guanaquitos Base Camp - 3550 masl Breakfast. Early we will begin our great adventure in the San Juan colossi and we will travel by charter vehicle through the Los Patos River Valley to El Molle; From there we ascend, also by vehicle, to Laguna Blanca. From here we begin the trekking to the Guanaquitos base camp, at 3550 meters high. With the collaboration of the animals that will carry the equipment, we will do the trekking with little weight. We continue with the hydration and we already get the first great views of the Mercedario.

Day 3: Walk and trekking along the normal route of ascent to Mercedario, as acclimatization, to obtain great views. Return to camp.

Day 4: Guanaquitos CB - 3550 masl. Breakfast. Day walk round trip to the viewpoint of the Caballito glacier and the Arroyo Turquesa, water of an amazing color of the eastern slope of Mercedario.

Day 5: Guanaquitos CB - Mirador-Balcon de los 6000 - Guanaquitos. Long day to access the impressive viewpoint known as the Balcony of six thousand  (4850 masl) , from where we can appreciate the Colorado River Valley surrounded by glaciers and the highest peaks of the Andes mountain range: Pico Polaco, Alma Negra, La Mesa, La Ramada Sur, La Ramada Norte and Mercedario. After the photos we will descend to the Guanaquitos camp.

Day 6: We have breakfast and begin our trekking back to Laguna Blanca and from there by private transportation again to Barreal.

Day 7. Breakfast. End of our services. As on the way out, we will propose, for those who need it, a return transfer to Mendoza city.

 

Included Services
  • Your purchase from an official agency - travel and tourism company registered with the Tourism Secretariat (Ascenso 23 EVyT Leg: 16396).
  • Professional mountain guides.
  • Assistants and cooks.
  • 4x4 transfer from Barreal to Laguna Blanca round trip.
  • Evacuation on foot, by mule or, if necessary, helicopter.
  • 2 nights in a cabin in Barreal.
  • Technical safety material, VHF radios, mountain first aid kit.
  • Heaters and kitchen elements.
  • Base camp service (dining tent, chairs, tables, kitchen) in Guanaquitos - Mercedario Base Camp, 3550 meters above sea level.
  • Sleeping tents throughout the expedition.
  • Full board (all meals) throughout the Expedition: breakfast, energy, lunch, snack, dinner.
  • Carrying general and personal equipment (with mules) throughout the trek.
  • Specific advice on materials and personal equipment.
  • Personal accident insurance.
  • Permanent assis

Services NOT included
  • Trip to Barreal.
  • Dinners in Barreal.
  • Tips.
  • Expenses caused by abandonment of the expedition.

Photo and Video Gallery


Faq

Do I need to be trained?

For any mountain activity you need to have prior physical preparation, or be physically active. In this case we suggest training well aerobically (running two to three times a week, cycling or swimming) and doing good leg training (gym, crossfit, AEX training, etc.)

Do I need to have previous experience?

We recommend having walked at least once previously with a trekking backpack, although prior experience is not required. Have ever slept in a tent.

Where do you spend the night?

The overnight stay takes place in mountain camps in comfortable igloo-type tents for 2/3 or 4 people. To share. The first and last night we slept in a hostel or cabins in Barreal, a small town in the Calingasta Valley.

Do I have to bring a tent?

The tents are included in the service. If you want to bring yours, ask us.

What is the climate or temperature?

Although the time of year is optimal for this journey, in mountainous and/or rugged areas temperatures usually drop at night. There may be the possibility that a storm hits us, hence the importance of personal equipment, you cannot lack anything that we detail in the equipment list.

Are there rest stops?

The stops occur with a frequency and gradation according to the intensity. There are stops for lunch, snack, and rest. 

From what age can you do this activity?

From 13 years of age.

How much does the backpack weigh?

In a woman a range of 8 to 12 kilos, in a man 12 to 15 kilos.

Is there a porter service?

We have a mule porting service, which will carry general equipment, such as kitchen items, food, tents, and security items. They also carry some of your equipment, approximately up to 7 kilos per person.

 

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 TEAM
  • Trekking backpack (55 to 80 liters).
  • Warm sleeping bag (-5 to -10 degrees comfort) (e.g. 800 g of down or equivalent synthetic).
  • Insulating mat (10 to 15mm).
  • Trekking sticks..
  • Water-resistant plastic bags to store all clothes inside the backpack.
DRESS
  • Stockings.
  • Underwear.
  • 1 pair of trekking boots (in conditions).
  • 1 second light replacement shoe for wading (crossing rivers) and getting wet.
  • Long trekking pants (NO JEAN).
  • 1 long inner pants or leggings.
  • 2 dry fit synthetic short-sleeved shirts.
  • 1 long-sleeved shirt.
  • 2 coats (fleece jumper, or wool pullover).
  • 1 sun hat (with flaps).
  • 1 scarf to cover the neck from the sun.
  • Fleece collar
  • Warm hat
PERSONAL ITEMS
  • Passport or ID.
  • Battery powered headlamp (With spare batteries).
  • Sunglasses (Category III or IV).
  • Sunscreen (not less than factor 45). Lip balm.
  • Toilet paper. Handkerchiefs. Wet wipes.
KITCHEN FOR PERSONAL USE
  • Containers for water for at least 2 liters (it can be a plastic bottle).
  • Cutlery.
  • Plate or taper (not glass or aluminum).
  • Plastic or metal jar and pottery (not glass or aluminum).
  • dish towel
OPTIONAL, not mandatory (see space and weight)
  • SILVER TAPE, for blisters and repairs.
  • Mate, bombilla and yerba.
  • Steel thermos.
  • Telescope, monocle. Photographic or video equipment.
  • Book, notebook, 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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Contact and Enquiries

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AEX S.R.L - Argentina Extrema ® - Ascenso23 EVT Leg:16396 - Disp:1532/15
Copyright Argentinaxtrema.com ©2009. All rights reserved.