Overview
Cerro Plata is the highest mountain of Cordón del Plata Range, that is a small subdivision of Central Cordillera of Chile and Argentina.
Cordón del Plata is located 50 miles of Mendoza, and is a popular place to climb, mainly for who want's to acclimataze to Aconcagua. Cerro Plata is the 4th elevation at Central Argentina.
There is also other mountains in the Cordon del Plata, one very close to each other, that makes much easier to acclimatize. As San Bernardo (4200), Vallecitos (5500), Rincón (5800).
On that other mountains you 'll also find other routers to climb, like on the Rincon that have some ice climbs besides the normal route. The most famous and dificult route is the "Direct Canaleta" Unfortunatly I don´t have clearly information about it.
Getting There
You must take a special transport on a turist office (on the Base camp Hostelling in Mendoza, or expediciones el plata, at Peru st, 1523) And arrive in Vallecitos ski station (that is closed on summers), There starts the approach.
Day 1: Arrive at Vallecitos and start the approaximation. The trail starts in the ski refugees close to Vallecitos. The first one is a refugee from the Univesidad Nacional de Cuyo, where is recommended to assigned your name to make a control.
It will Take about 3 hours walk up to the first camp: Las Veguitas, at 3200 meters.
Day 2: From Las Veguitas, accend to the San Bernardo Peak Summit. It is a walk up climb with no secrets. That´s good to acclimatize and to see the beautifull landscape.
Day 3: Walk up from Las veguitas to Piedra Grande camp, at 3600. Another no secret walk up. Just about 3 hours trekking.
Day 4: Go to the base camp " Salto" at 4200 meters. Only the final part you´ll find a dificult place to walk up, with some stone debris. About 5 hour trek.
Day 5: Attempt to climb the Vallecitos peak. An walk up Summit, with 5500 meters. For acclimation.
Day 6: You can continue your acclimatizing process, climbing Cerro Rincón, or leaving your camp to La Ollada, at 4600 meters. These camp is not recomended because of the poor quality of the water.
Day 7: Summit Day. The Cerro Plata Peak is trekking summit. But It don´t mean that will gonna be easy. You are at a 6300 high peak, so prepare your self, inclusing to psicological problems. The summit is hidden by false peaks, you ever think that you´re arriving, but not.
Take care with weather conditions, mainly electrical storms!
It can leave only one day to go down from Salto to Vallecitos
Red Tape
As Cerro Plata is outside any restricted area, you don't have to pay anything, so justo go...
When To Climb
The best season is from December to MArch, on the south American summer.
Camping
Camping is allowed. One of the better things on that mountain, is that the camps in the approach are very close one for each other and all them, including the base camp have good liquid water!
Mountain Conditions
Weather conditions:
http://www.tutiempo.net/tiempo/Mendoza_Aerodrome/SAME.htm
Campo Base Hostel, Mendoza:
www.campo-base.com.ar/
curiosity
There is a helicopter crashed close to the plata summit. The two pilots died on the accidente, it was the first fatal incident on that mountain...
External LinksImages
|
