Trekking and ascent in Vallecitos - Franke - Cordón del Plata

One classic trekking and ascent in the Andes

  • Start Date : 2025-Mar-22
    End Date: 2025-Mar-25
  • Hora Inicio: 8 AM
    Hora Fin: 5 PM
  • Meeting Point:Mendoza
    End: Mendoza
  • Duration:4 days
    Availability: 8 spots
Franke (4850 masl), Vallecitos

Proposal

The classic mountain school

Cordón del Plata is the high mountain "school" of Mendoza and of Argentines in general. One of the few relatively "alpine" landscapes in the country; Where altitude, really big mountains, ice and verticality are combined. It is a midpoint between the great distances and smooth deserts of the high mountains of the Northwest and the concentrated and upright masses of granite of Patagonia. Much could be written about geological, historical or romantic aspects about these beautiful mountains, where so many mountaineers of different generations have lots of memories, dreams and first achievements. The Cordón del Plata does not belong to the border range or Principal Range, where Aconcagua is, nor to the old Precordillera, but is between the two, constituting together with the Tigre Range the so-called Frontal Range. It is geologically the newest, and for this reason its mountains are the most slender in the Central Andes. 

This proposal is for 4 days to try one of the summits of more than 4000 meters, Franke - Lomas Blanca

ITINERARY

Day 1 Meeting in Mendoza, in front of the bus terminal. 10 a.m. Transfer by charter vehicle to Vallecitos (2850 masl), about 80 km from the city. In Vallecitos we will prepare the equipment and we will make the first stretch, about 3 hours, to the Las Veguitas camp, at 3200 masl. Camp setup.

Day 2: On this day we will ascend to our camp, to Veguitas Superior. 4 hours of walking. Set up of the camp. Rest. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Very early. Ascent to Cerro Franke. An extensive and exhausting day to try to reach the summit of this representative hill of the Cordón del Plata, with great views from its top. He gets off and sleeps in the camp.

Day 4: Breaking camp and descent to the shelters. Return to Mendoza and lunch in Potrerillos. End of the program and our services

 

Included Services
  • Advice prior to the trip through photos, maps.
  • Transfer Mendoza-Vallecitos-Mendoza
  • 3 nights in a wild camp.
  • Professional mountain guides
  • tents
  • All meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 4 (breakfast, energy, lunch, snack, dinner)
  • permanent advice

Services NOT included

 

  • Bus or air to Mendoza round trip.
  • Expenses for leaving the program

Photo and Video Gallery


Albums

Trekking and Ascent to Vallecitos - San Bernardo - Adolfo Calle - Plata Range, Mendoza

Introduction to Mountaineering - Vallecitos - San Bernardo - Adolfo Calle - Cordón del Plata, Mendoza

San Bernardo Summit 4510 masl

Mountaineering - Vallecitos

Faq

Is it a very difficult program?

It does not have technical difficulty but it does have some physics with height. The program is designed for those who want to do a more demanding mountain and for the Training group that is preparing for greater objectives.

Do I need to be trained?

For any mountain activity it is necessary to have a certain previous physical preparation, although it is not decisive.

Where do you spend the night?

The overnight is in tents.

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 and very early.

Are rest stops made?

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

How much does the backpack weigh?

Approximately 10 to 12 Kg, the day of the summit less.

What do we eat?


In all our expeditions we offer the meal service IN FULL BOARD PLAN.

March lunches (cold meals): Milanese and tomato sandwiches, cold cut sandwiches, chopped, salads, tapas, etc.

Dinner: Vegetable stews-bacon-red chorizo, Chicken and vegetable casseroles, Pasta with various sauces or stew, Roast meat (Chivito), Chaw Fan, Chicken with rice in the casserole....

Breakfasts and snacks: Tea, Coffee, Cappuccino, Cooked Mate, Mate, Powdered milk; bread, cookies, jam, honey, dulce de leche; cereals, fruit.

It is necessary to complete the personal/medical file to clarify if someone does not eat some type of food.

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

Required equipment

GENERAL EQUIPMENT
  • Special backpack for trekking (65 to 85 litres)
  • Warm sleeping bag (minimum –10 degrees comfort) (eg 700gms or 1 Kg of feather or good synthetic)
  • Insulating mat (10 to 15mm)
  • Trekking sticks.
  • Water-resistant plastic bags to store all the clothes inside the backpack.
CLOTHING
  • Stockings
  • Underwear
  • 1 pair of trekking boots (in conditions).
  • Long trekking pants (NO JEAN).
  • 1 long inner pants or leggings.
  • 2 dry fit synthetic short-sleeved shirts.
  • 1 long-sleeved shirt.
  • 2 coats (fleece jumper, or wool pullover).
  • 1 sun hat (with flaps).
  • 1 scarf to cover the neck from the sun.
  • Fleece collar
  • Warm hat
HANDS
  • Thin first layer gloves.
  • Warm fleece gloves.
  • Third layer gloves (waterproof). They can be mittens or ski type.
THIRD LAYER (windproof and waterproof)
  • Waterproof-windproof jacket (ultrex or gore tex or similar).
  • Feather coat jacket.
  • Trouser cover (ultrex or gore tex or similar) – According to conditions. Consult.
  • Leggings – According to conditions
PERSONAL ELEMENTS
  • Passport/ID
  • Medical insurance, social work.
  • Physically Fit Form (where your doctor indicates that you are fit to perform this activity)
OTHER ELEMENTS
  • Headlamp with batteries.
  • Sunglasses (mandatory)
  • Sunscreen (not less than factor 45). Lip balm.
  • Toilet paper. Handkerchiefs Baby wipes.
KITCHEN ELEMENTS
  • Containers for water for at least 2 liters (it can be a plastic bottle).
  • Cutlery.
  • Plate or taper (not glass or aluminum).
  • Plastic or metal jar and pottery (not glass or aluminum).
  • dish towel
OPTIONAL, not mandatory (see space and weight)
  • SILVER TAPE, for blisters and repairs.
  • Mate, bombilla and yerba.
  • Steel thermos.
  • Telescope, monocle. Photographic or video equipment.
  • Book, notebook, travel diary, pencil, pen.

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 1124012278
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