Cerro Aconcagua

Argentina's Cerro Aconcagua, situated in Mendoza 's  province, is the higest peak in the Western Hemisphere. At 22834 ft, or 6960 m, the peak towers over the Andes range and nearby Upsallata Pass, the transandine crossing between Argentina and Chile. The very first man that scaled it in 1897 was Edward Fitz Gerald, an English alpinist, Aconcagua still challenges climbers who must schedule at least two weeks to acclimatize to the altitude and ascend to the summit. Cerro Aconcagua is within the rugged Parque Provincial Aconcagua on the Argentine/Chilean border. The park rangers on the mountain will not allow access without a permit, which must be obtained personally in Mendoza before the climb. Take a friendly advice and not try it if you are not prepared for this kind of odissey.