The expedition is currently expected to take a minimum of 28 days.  The team is due to depart from the UK at the end of January 2001, and will follow the expedition plan outlined below, following the Polish Glacier route to the summit. The Vacas Valley Approach The team will approach from Puenta Vacas in the south and walk to Pampas de Lenas on day 1. On day 2, the team will reach Casa del Piedra at 3200 metres, and Base Camp at Plaza Argentina at 4200m on day 3.

The Polish Glacier The Polish Glacier provides a moderate snow and ice climb up the North Face of Aconcagua. There are 3 main routes: The Polish Glacier Route The Polish Glacier Direct Route The Variation of the Polish Glacier Direct Route The climb on any of these routes starts from Camp 2 at 5900m.  The team will take the normal Polish Glacier Route.  This route  bears left up to the Piedra Bandera passing to the right of the feature, while avoiding the larger seracs, through a constriction known as the bottle neck. After climbing up the 30 to 35 degree slopes, the route meets the exposed East ridge.  After moving along this ridge, across many false summits, the team will reach the summit of Aconcagua at 6962m.   (The Polish Glacier)      (The summit ridge)     (The East ridge with 3000m drop on the right and 1000m glacier to the left) The Schedule  The following is a more detailed schedule of the expedition.   Day Location Activity Altitude (Distance walked) 1 UK Fly advance party to Mendoza via Buenos Aires.   2 Mendoza Advance party arrange permits and transport, food and fuel.    3 Mendoza/ Pte de Inca  Main body arrive.   All move to Pte de Inca.  2720 m 4 Vacas Valley  Acclimatisation trek to Base Camp. Overnight at Pampa de Lenas. 2700 m (11.8 km) 5 Vacas Valley Trek to Base Camp. Overnight at Casa de Piedra. 3200 m (13.7 km) 6 Vacas Valley Trek to Base Camp. Overnight at Base Camp (Plaza Argentina). 4200 m (10 km) 7 Plaza Argentina Rest day and research. 4200 m 8 Aconcagua Load carry to Camp 1. Overnight at Base Camp. Camp 1: 5000 m 9 Plaza Argentina Rest day at Base Camp. 4200 m 10 Aconcagua Base Camp to Camp 2. Overnight at Base Camp. Camp 2: 5700-5900 m 11 Plaza Argentina Rest day and research at Base Camp. 4200 m 12 Aconcagua Base Camp to Camp 1 and sleep.  5000 m 13 Aconcagua Rest day at Camp 1. 5000 m 14 Aconcagua Camp 1 to Camp 2 and sleep. 5700-5900 m 15 Aconcagua Rest day at Camp 2. 5700-5900 m 16 Aconcagua Camp 2 to Camp 3.  Overnight at Camp 2. Camp 3: 6400 m 17 Aconcagua Rest day at Camp 2. 5700-5900 m 18 Aconcagua Summit Day. 6962 m 19 Aconcagua Summit Day. 6962 m 20 Aconcagua Summit Day. 6962 m 21 Aconcagua Summit Day. 6962 m 22 Aconcagua Camp 3/2 to Base Camp.   23 Plaza Argentina Base Camp to Pampas de Lenas.   24 Vacas Valley Pampas de Lenas to Punta de Vacas.   25 Pte de Inca Pte de Inca to Mendoza.   26 Mendoza Administration & data collation.   27 Mendoza Fly Mendoza to UK.   28 UK Arrive UK.