Justin:
Glad to hear you're saving up money and common sense for a trip. They will both come in handy. Vegetarian eh? I wouldn't mention that down there or someone will slap you upside the head with a steak. You can't walk downtown in Mendoza without smelling meat on the BBQ. All I wanted to do was eat and drink. Good thing there's a place to sit and grab a beer every 50 feet or so. I hope you get to go this upcoming season. It's a fantastic trip and a great adventure. We met a lot of great people like Walt, William Marler, Laurie Skreslet, Jim Nylander and the people in Mendoza are so friendly.
If you haven't been above 18,000 though it would probably be a good idea to hook up with some other people so you can keep an eye on one another and take it really slow. If you're interested in coming with me keep in touch. I can mail you the information if you want.
Brad