Ascenso Pico 4 - Cordón de Ansilta - San Juan

Expedition to the summit of Pico 4 de Ansilta, 5150 masl

  • Start Date : 2025-Oct-13
    End Date: 2025-Oct-20
  • Hora Inicio: 9 am
    Hora Fin: 9 am
  • Meeting Point:Barreal, San Juan
    End: Barreal, San Juan
  • Duration:8 days
    Availability: 10 spots
Cordon de Ansilta ascent, San Juan. Peak No. 4 (5150 masl)

Proposal

 

Mountains paradise

 

It is at the western end of the Calingasta Valley, a few kilometers from the town of Barreal and about 100 km north of Uspallata, in Mendoza. The Ansilta mountain range runs from north to south, in a framework of valleys and surprising elevations, and has 7 peaks over 5,000 meters above sea level. Our expedition proposes to go into large valleys to set up high altitude camps and try to summit Peak 4 at 5150 meters above sea level.

Itinerary

Day 1: BARREAL. Meeting in the town of Barreal in the afternoon. In Barreal, preparation of the team, last-minute purchases and we accommodate ourselves in a local accommodation: in a hostel, rooms to share (ask for another alternative). Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Camp 1. Breakfast. Transfer to Los Morillos (2500 masl). We separated the equipment for the mules and began to walk towards our first camp. Ascent through a large valley towards the Ansilta mountain range. With stops and a slow pace. Lunch on the way. We will look for the most appropriate place in the valley to set up our first high altitude camp, at about 3,300 meters above sea level. Set up of the camp. We continue with our hydration and acclimatization process. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Base Camp. We set up camp and head towards our second and last camp, the base camp. At 4000 meters there is a suitable place, with snowfields to melt and get liquid. Set up of the camp. Hydration, dinner and sleep.

Day 4: Base Camp. Day of rest. Practice of crampons and technical material. Hydration, dinner and an early night.

Day 5: SUMMIT ATTEMPT. After having breakfast and getting up very early (at dawn) and if the weather conditions are ok, we will try to ascend to Peak 4 of Ansilta.  Options not to go to the summit and explore the bottom of the valley. Return to base camp in the afternoon.

Day 6: Camp 1. Disarmed the camp and descent to camp 1.

Day 7: LOS MORILLOS/BARREAL Last day of the hike. Descent to Los Morillos and from there transfer to Barreal, to stay again at the hostel. Showers, toasts and farewell dinner. End of our services.

Day 8: We have breakfast. End in Barreal. From here it will be possible to return home or continue exploring the area. Options for those who stay: visit the El Leoncito National Park and the great astronomical observatories, rafting on the Los Patos River, sand yachting, etc.

Note

Program subject to weather, geographic or political conditions. Modifications of the same can occur on the fly depending on circumstances and various factors. The decisions will be made exclusively by the guides, baqueanos and coordinators.

Expedition backpack on the shoulder. There are permanent unevennesses, between forests and high passes. You have to carry your own backpack with personal equipment and a bag of group food. Semi-technical terrain. The nights are in wild areas (without toilets), in tents and/or stalls. Possible porterage of equipment with animals the first section.

Included Services
  • Mules to transport general equipment to the camps.
  • Local transfers (Barreal-Los Morillos-Barreal).
  • Permanent coordination + guides.
  • Overnight in wild camps and/or posts.
  • High mountain tents.
  • 2 Nights in Barreal in cabins and/or hostel.
  • Satellite phone for emergencies.
  • All meals, from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8.
  • General camp logistics (pots, heaters, VHF, communication elements).
  • Prior advice.

Services NOT included
  • Air/bus to San Juan-Mendoza.
  • Transfer to Barrel.
  • Drinks in Barreal (then there is water on the mountain)

Photo and Video Gallery


Albums

Ansilta Pico4 Pico5 San Juan Montanismo
Ansilta Range, San Juan. Summit expedition

Expedition to the Ansilta Range, San Juan. 1 week

Faq

Is it a climb with difficulty?


It does not have technical difficulty but it does have physical and altitude difficulties. The terrain is gravelly (stony) and with little path. It is a very isolated area.

Do I need to be trained?


For any mountain activity you need to have prior physical preparation, or be physically active.

Do I need to have previous experience?


It is important to have some previous experience in different treks. We recommend having good physical condition, and knowing that the modality is with a backpack, and you spend the night in a wild camp. The summit day is intense.

Where do you spend the night?


The overnight stay takes place in mountain camps in igloo-type tents, comfortable and for 2/3 people.

Do I have to bring a tent?


The tents are included in the service.

What is the weather or temperature?


Although the time of year is summer, in mountainous and/or rugged areas temperatures tend to drop at night.

Are rest stops made?


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

From what age can they do this activity?


From 16 years of age.

How much does the backpack weigh?


In a woman a range of 13 to 15 kilos, in a man from 15 to 20 kilos.

Is there a porter service?


Yes, up to Camp 1, with mules. Likewise, each one moves with their backpack carrying personal equipment and something from the group (tents, food, etc.)

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

Fitness (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.
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Required equipment

EQUIPMENT LIST
  • Special backpack for trekking (60 to 80 liters).
  • Warm sleeping bag (-10 degrees comfort, eg 800/1000gms. of feather-duvet or good synthetic).
  • Insulating mat (10 to 15mm).
  • Inflatable insulating mattress (optional).
  • Trekking sticks.
FOOT WEAR
  • High mountain boots (synthetic or plastic double boots
  • Trekking shoes 
BASE LAYER  (First skin)
  • Underwear.
  • Cotton t-shirts (to be in the camp and to sleep)
  • T-shirts and/or synthetic short-sleeved shirts
  • Synthetic shirts with long sleeves
  • Pants or leggings made of polypropylene or similar (not cotton). To wear as warm indoor pants
  • Thin gloves made of polypropylene or similar (not cotton)
  • Fleece cap
  • Pairs of synthetic thin socks (not cotton)
  • Buff neck 
MIDDLE LAYER 

 

  • Trekking socks (synthetic-thermal)
  • Thick mountain socks
  • cotton or wool socks ( wool is for sleeping)
  • 2 long trekking pants
  • Shorts
  • Sweatshirt (Fleece 100 or Fleece 200)
  • Thin - Feather duvet jacket
  • Thick feather-duvet jacket
  • Fleece gloves (with fingers)
  • Sun hat
 OUTER LAYER 
  • Waterproof jacket - parka (gore tex or similar)
  • Pants cover (gore tex or similar)
  • Waterproof and breathable gloves
  • Ski gloves 
  • Mountain gaiters
TECHNICAL TEAM

 

  • Crampons (possible to rent).
  • Helmet.
PERSONAL ITEMS
  • Passport, ID card, ID.
  • Medical insurance
  • Medical and personal information completed, authorization.
  • Permit  printed for payment.
 OTHER ELEMENTS
  • Frontal flashlight with batteries (with spare batteries)
  • Sturdy plastic bags for storing clothes.
HEALTH & HYGIENE

 

  • Sun glasses with UV protection Category 4
  • Spare lenses (can be goggles, highly recommended)
  • Personal first-aid kit (medication with the relevant recipe)
  • Sunscreen, Lip balm
  • Soap, shampoo (small) and small towel.
  • Toilet paper. Baby wipes.

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

RECOMENDACION: Pueden comunicarse de formar directa al 54 9 1173648678
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