Climbing Ojos del Salado 2023 Argentine side
MCS AlexClimbOur Ojos del Salado from Argentine program here
There is still debate about whether volcano Ojos del Salado is the highest in the world or the second…. In any case, with its altitude of 6891 m, this is the second highest mountain in the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres, yielding only 69 meters to the famous Mount Aconcagua (6960 m).
As an object for climbing, Ojos del Salado can be considered as an uncomplicated training or acclimatizing mountain, the ascent to which does not present technical difficulties - the main objective on the route to Ojos del Salado is to acclimatize qualitatively to the altitudes of 5-6000 meters.
In this regard, any of the routes to Ojos del Salado are an almost ideal solution for acclimatization and training - the length of the routes and the very gentle altitude gain profile allow you to calmly and without stress for the body adapt to the new conditions of rarefied air and moderate physical activity.
The main tourist activity on volcano Ojos del Salado goes on the western side, on the territory of Chile.
There are several large shelters located there, as well as comfortable access to the last camp by off-road vehicles. The total length of the Chilean route, starting from asphalt, is 34 kilometers one way. However, the vast majority of tourists use the transportation service and drive to the last camp using the off-road vehicles, reducing the climbing program just to several days, and the length of the final section of the route to only 7.2 kilometers.
The route from the Argentinean side is a more exciting, albeit time-consuming. The total length of the route from the Argentinean side from the asphalt road is 62 kilometers one way, the route is not equipped with shelters or drivable roads, which could greatly simplify, but also to make the route more entertainment and popular.
The Argentinian side of Ojos del Salado offers exactly the kind of climbing experience that is most valuable in mountaineering - the purity and pristine mountains, close contact with harsh wildlife, the absence of crowds and excessive commercial activity.
In general, from the Argentinean side, it is also possible to access by 4x4 - the last camp (Arenales 5500 m), from where it is possible to attempt the top of the volcano in one go (the length of this section is even less than from the Chilean side - 5.8 km).
However, it is the most interesting to be able to climb without significant reductions in the route, car traffic and crowded stone boxes with people - popular shelters.
The route to Ojos del Salado from the Argentinean side takes 8-9 days in case if you are already acclimatized. The best option is a "supported expedition" - when the cargo of the expedition is transported by horses.
This option is also the safest - in the event of complications or an accident, horses always provide the necessary mobility and the ability to get to the evacuation point.
The scale of the slopes of volcano Ojos del Salado is impressive. Incredibly flat sandy expanses go into the infinity of the blue of the sky and merge with the clouds somewhere in the foggy haze of the lifeless desert almost set on fire by the sun. Wind and death reign here.
Tiny islands of life are concentrated around the rarest sources of water - in these priceless oases, the green grass, birdsong and animal tracks delight the eye as the signs of life. But try to get away from the spring - each step takes you into the depths of a lifeless void, where only rocks, sand and white bones of animals killed by thirst or by a condor.
The symbol and the King of this amazing land, a huge bird, hovers in the sky like a cross, which leads to the last journey anyone who makes even the slightest mistake in choosing the path or, having spent strength, does not reach the source of water. The Condor is the only sovereign judge, master and gravedigger here.
The tongue never turns to call this severe relief as mountains or even hills. These are some kind of cosmic expanses, a Martian landscape in which a person is not present even in the form of a tiny point – the human being is nothing here equal to a grain of eternal sand.
