SummitPost.org

I just joined Aventuras Patagonicas 12/26-1/14/2010 trip to Aconcagua, unfortunately, this is the worst guided trip I ever had. The main guider (Calvin Hebert) only been to Aconcagua once before guided us, the food & service during the trip were not good, we didn’t summit even the weather were pretty good, the guider (Calvin Hebert) just want to rush back even we still have several days left according to the schdule.......

I would not recommend Aventuras Patagonicas nor Calvin Hebert for your future trip, if you have any question or need any future information, please feel free to contact me.

Too bad you had to learn about the quality of service of this outfit the hard way.

Sorry to hear that! Did you tell the company and the guide what you felt about it?

Wow! I have climbed with Rodrigo (owner) before and was VERY impressed. This is sad to hear!

The dispatch said you made two summit attempts.

Yes, almost all of us complained to the guider on the mountain and to the company after came back , the complaining emails is still going around and growing now, Rodrigo said he will talk to each guide and get back to us, we are all still waiting.

Yes, it said 2 attempts on their website, several of us already wrote to Rodrigo that it is not true, we only had 1 attempt, I “begged” Calvin for the 2nd attempt at the high camp, but he just want to rush down.

I had several guided trips before, all very pleasant, some guides helped me to achieve what I can't by myself, but this time it is completely opposite, I definitely can summit given the condition on these couple days if it is not because of the guider.

I am really sorry to hear all this and for your trip. After all the training and excitement of getting there it is sad to have such a bad experience. It has been quite a while since i climbed with them, I guess companies change!

I'm sorry to learn of your experience. I had a very good trip with them two years ago, despite the fact that our main guide had never climbed Aconcagua before and his partner had been on top once.

Woodie

I met Calvin Hebert long time ago. Long hair? Awkward, bipolar-like personality? I am surprise that anyone would hire him as a lead guide. You said he wanted to rush back down? Why? Why didn’t you summit? Can you recommend the other guiding companies that you like?

It is not that he only been to Aconcagua once made Calvin Hebert not a good guider for Aconcagua, it is his attitude and personality, a few examples:


1. When there was not enough dinner cooked, and I went to ask for more food, he just said: “ dinner is over, no food until breakfast”.

2. After 16,000ft, he told us: too hard to boil water, 1 liter hot water each for morning and night. At that altitude and temperature, I definitely will provide myself more hot water if I am doing this trip by myself, not mention I paid almost $4,000 for the service.

3. At basecamp, we found out that our schdule is different from what’s on Aventuras Patagonicas’s website also what we were told before signed up, eg. only 3 campsites vs 4, etc. When we asked for the reason, Calvin just said:” you are in reality, forget about the website, I never look at the website and I don’t know what’s up there”

Despite all the complains we gave to Aventuras Patagonicas after the trip, we still haven’t heard any response/action from them.

Woodie Hopper wrote:I'm sorry to learn of your experience. I had a very good trip with them two years ago, despite the fact that our main guide had never climbed Aconcagua before and his partner had been on top once.

Woodie

Yes, that's him.

Because, he wanted everyone to go down, he refused to provide me hot water and food, I can't go even I want to try by myself.

Sorry, I don't have any recommendation as I don't have any personal experience with any other companies on Aconcagua (i used local companies for Kilimanjaro and Elburs). I am not planning to hire guiders if i go back there again, as I already know the mountain, and I don't want to take another risk of bad guide.

Senusret wrote:I met Calvin Hebert long time ago. Long hair? Awkward, bipolar-like personality? I am surprise that anyone would hire him as a lead guide. You said he wanted to rush back down? Why? Why didn’t you summit? Can you recommend the other guiding companies that you like?

Really sorry to hear about your bad trip. I almost chose that company, but ended up going with a local company instead, Inka Expediciones, and had a great trip. My guide (Horacio Cunietti) had summited Aconcagua over 40 times, including winter ascents, polish glacier, and even south face. This was in Feb 2008. I highly recommend Inka.

I second the recommendation for Inka. We only paid for their mules services but they gave us a lot more than that. They gave us free hot water every morning at 10K and 14K. Let us use their latrines. Let us sleep in their private area. Stored gear for us. Rides to/from trailhead. Gave us weather reports on the mountain. They really exceeded our expectations. I don't know what their guides are like but based on my experience I would definitely recommend them.

Glad you both had great experiences!

At most of the campsites, I saw bigger tent with Inka sign on, maybe for dining. At basecamp, I used their Internet service, which most companies don't have. But no personl experience with their guides.

I climbed AP this past year. Successfully summited. The guides were nice and helpful, but also gave me my space when I wanted it. The price they charge for the services they advertise are spot on, and are even less than many other guides. I felt I got my money's worth from AP.

Best of luck to anyone climbing Aconcagua this climbing season.