The Essence of Mountaineering.
"Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb." Greg Child
"The whole purpose of climbing something like Everest is to effect some sort of spiritual and physical gain. But if you compromise the process you’re an asshole when you start out and an asshole when you get back." Yvon Chouinard from the film 180 South°
Lionel Terray called it "the conquistador of the useless". George Mallory climbed Mt. Everest "because it's there". The rest of us could probably not explain why we felt the draw to places yonder and the need to scale towering peaks towards the heavens.
Mountaineering is, by its very nature, an adventurous activity; this is part of its attraction and value. While the "established ways" have improved the overall safety, it has also relegated the route to "high altitude hill walking" to many, dampening their sense of adventure and reduces their achievements to mere peak bagging.
Achieving your objectives by means of your own mountaineering abilities requires some degree of self-sufficiency, which a fully supported climb has stripped of. Climbing in a self-sufficient style makes one's mountaineering activity more committing and adventurous, it expresses a purer and more valuable example of mountaineering. It has values more than the prized summit itself.
We can't agree with the "established ways", nor will we argue. As fellow alpinist, we will model.
"The whole purpose of climbing something like Everest is to effect some sort of spiritual and physical gain. But if you compromise the process you’re an asshole when you start out and an asshole when you get back." Yvon Chouinard from the film 180 South°
Lionel Terray called it "the conquistador of the useless". George Mallory climbed Mt. Everest "because it's there". The rest of us could probably not explain why we felt the draw to places yonder and the need to scale towering peaks towards the heavens.
Mountaineering is, by its very nature, an adventurous activity; this is part of its attraction and value. While the "established ways" have improved the overall safety, it has also relegated the route to "high altitude hill walking" to many, dampening their sense of adventure and reduces their achievements to mere peak bagging.
Achieving your objectives by means of your own mountaineering abilities requires some degree of self-sufficiency, which a fully supported climb has stripped of. Climbing in a self-sufficient style makes one's mountaineering activity more committing and adventurous, it expresses a purer and more valuable example of mountaineering. It has values more than the prized summit itself.
We can't agree with the "established ways", nor will we argue. As fellow alpinist, we will model.
Alpinistica.
Alpinistica is created to fill a gap currently doesn't exist in the high altitude guiding industry - self-sufficient mountaineering expedition and alpine-style ascent to the commercially-guided mountain. No bells and whistles- we are just here to climb a mountain, savor the experience, and walk away a better person.
We do not run dozens of expeditions, a dozen to two dozen climbers per expedition, a season to maximize profitability. Nor do we mass-produce summit-taggers through the prescribed rigid formula of "success". "Success rate", as many guiding companies have prided themselves on, doesn't apply here. We simply see it a little differently.
Climbing style and the journey to the top- not the mere summit- is the yardstick of success. We believe ultimately mountain climbing is a personal experience- it shouldn't be measured by sporting performance. And winning requires surviving. Style and safety, therefore, are the twin-core focus of all our expeditions. We want to send you back to your love ones smiling and winning.
Learn more about our: Expedition Aconcagua | Alpine style
We do not run dozens of expeditions, a dozen to two dozen climbers per expedition, a season to maximize profitability. Nor do we mass-produce summit-taggers through the prescribed rigid formula of "success". "Success rate", as many guiding companies have prided themselves on, doesn't apply here. We simply see it a little differently.
Climbing style and the journey to the top- not the mere summit- is the yardstick of success. We believe ultimately mountain climbing is a personal experience- it shouldn't be measured by sporting performance. And winning requires surviving. Style and safety, therefore, are the twin-core focus of all our expeditions. We want to send you back to your love ones smiling and winning.
Learn more about our: Expedition Aconcagua | Alpine style
Expedition Leaders.
We are a team of international climbers, guides and instructors who are always busy working and playing in Patagonia, the Andes mountains, the European Alps, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, Alaska and the Himalayas.
We are drawn together by our love for the mountains, passion in teaching mountaineering skills, and commitment in supporting personal growth and helping to achieve your personal goals.
When we are not guiding or instructing in the mountains, we are normally faced with insurmountable tasks such as choosing whether to go rock climbing or paragliding. Though, sometimes, some of us would be putting up first-ascents and leading private expeditions all over the world. Alpinism is not a job- it is a lifestyle. We know how to camp in style, joke away the hardships and motivate you towards your goals. As well, we are trained to a high level of risk management and have the necessary experience to make the right decision.
All our expedition leaders have at least Wilderness First Responder medical training, although many have Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician training (paramedic level, second to Advanced Life Support as the highest level of wilderness emergency medical training available in the USA).
We are drawn together by our love for the mountains, passion in teaching mountaineering skills, and commitment in supporting personal growth and helping to achieve your personal goals.
When we are not guiding or instructing in the mountains, we are normally faced with insurmountable tasks such as choosing whether to go rock climbing or paragliding. Though, sometimes, some of us would be putting up first-ascents and leading private expeditions all over the world. Alpinism is not a job- it is a lifestyle. We know how to camp in style, joke away the hardships and motivate you towards your goals. As well, we are trained to a high level of risk management and have the necessary experience to make the right decision.
All our expedition leaders have at least Wilderness First Responder medical training, although many have Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician training (paramedic level, second to Advanced Life Support as the highest level of wilderness emergency medical training available in the USA).
Our Ethics.
"The collection of stone shelters awakened new states of disgust in me. A trekking group had pitched their toilet tent over the water supply, raw sewage polka-dotted the few campsites, and Western garbage, American garbage, was piled high everywhere. Yeah, I felt like a gringo. Yeah, I felt sick... After climbing the peak, I left the others behind and ran away. I ran 10 miles back to Kangtega Base Camp. I couldn't embrace what our presence had done to that awesome place." from Mark Twight's "Kiss or Kill".
Many companies market their eco-friendliness and display the "Leave No Trace" logo on their websites, but otherwise practice quite differently on the mountain. If you've been on an expedition to Cerro Aconcagua, I am sure you will know exactly what we mean.
We have strong wilderness ethics because we are lovers of the mountains. Our wilderness ethics are our identity and the mountains are our home. It is the only way we will enjoy the mountains, and this is the least we can do to pay our due of respects to the great Stone Sentinel, this beautiful country and its people who've kindly taken us into their homes.
All our guides are certified to at least Leave No Trace Trainer, while many are Master Educator. Learning and practicing our wilderness ethics is mandatory for all our expeditions and ascent programs.
Read more about Leave No Trace here.
Many companies market their eco-friendliness and display the "Leave No Trace" logo on their websites, but otherwise practice quite differently on the mountain. If you've been on an expedition to Cerro Aconcagua, I am sure you will know exactly what we mean.
We have strong wilderness ethics because we are lovers of the mountains. Our wilderness ethics are our identity and the mountains are our home. It is the only way we will enjoy the mountains, and this is the least we can do to pay our due of respects to the great Stone Sentinel, this beautiful country and its people who've kindly taken us into their homes.
All our guides are certified to at least Leave No Trace Trainer, while many are Master Educator. Learning and practicing our wilderness ethics is mandatory for all our expeditions and ascent programs.
Read more about Leave No Trace here.
