Aconcagua is the highest peak of the South Occidental hemisphere and the highest one of the American Continent.
This immense mass standing out in the distance between its giant neighbours probably didn't go unnoticed by the primitive population. Therefore its name, according to those that affirm the Quechua roots, is derived from "Ackon Cahuak" and is translated as "The Sentinel of Stone".
The mountain is towering above the surrounding peaks in the Argentine Andes in the province of Mendoza. It stands a few kilometres from the border with Chile.
It has a very steep and massive face on its south and a gentle slope on the north, with a huge glacier, the Polish glacier, flowing to the east and a series of couloirs to the west. The mountain has two summits - North (6,959m) and South (6,930m), joined by a ridge approximately one kilometre long. The whole massif is isolated from other high peaks; only to the northwest it is connected by a high snow ridge with the surrounding mountain systems.
Extreme weather conditions on and around Aconcagua, make this a serious enterprise for those who wants to reach the top.
The movement of air coming from the Pacific is the principal cause of the snow and wind storms that are unleashed on Aconcagua. Even during the "good months" - December until end of February - wind can be extremely strong above an altitude of 5000 m. In this mountain, due to its great size, another special phenomenon is produced. Strong winds from the West sometimes blow in the high altitudes, affecting the high part of the mountain (5500 meters and above), forming a big mushroom or lentil shaped cloud, causing the "viento blanco" ("white wind") raging at 180 km/hour over the top. Even with good weather in the basecamp at 4250m, the presence of the mushroom is an unmistakable sign of strong wind and precipitation in the altitude. Entering into the interior of this mushroom can have a fatal result. When the next formation is observed it is necessary to abandon the upper part of the mountain.
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