Aconcagua: Mountain Medicine CME

Jan. 30th - Feb. 17th, 2025

  • Join our Mountain Medicine CME course while climbing Aconcagua. Aconcagua is the highest point on the American continent and the tallest peak in the world outside of Asia. Rising approximately 4,000ft above its surrounding peaks, Aconcagua, “The Stone Sentinel”, dominates the rugged Andean landscape. The ascent to its summit offers spectacular views of the Andes Mountain range.

  • Aconcagua was first climbed in 1897, up the Northwest side of the mountain by Swiss Mountain Guide Matthias Zurbriggen. This route has become the most popular way to climb the mountain and is known as the Ruta Normal or Normal Route. The extreme altitude, severe winds, and cold temperatures make an ascent by this or any other route on this mountain very challenging.

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

  • This course is ideal for those interested in providing medical care in the wild or those travel enthusiasts, group leaders, climbers, walkers, EMT’s, nurses, NP's, PA's or doctors with a desire to learn medical treatment in austere environments. While completing the core curriculum of this CME course we will gradually ascend the 6,706m (22,837ft) summit of Aconcagua, completing the core lectures and skills at various camps or in the wilderness settings along the route.

  • Skill Level: Beginner / Intermediate

  • Location: Aconcagua, Andes Range, Argentina

  • Length: 19 days

  • Climber/Guide Ratio: 3:1

  • Prerequisites: Excellent Physical Condition

  • Optional Helicopter Exit: $850 - per Person

ATTENDING THIS COURSE YOU WILL:

  • Opportunity to Climb one of the “SEVEN SUMMITS” and highest peak in South America

  • Learn the latest wilderness medical skills for patient assessment, stabilization and evacuation.

  • Work with our expert faculty and local mountain guides to develop your mountain skills

  • Earn 20.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits

  • Obtain Fellowship credits from the Wilderness Medicine Society (FAWM)

CERTIFICATION:

  • Approved for 20.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and WMS FAWM Credits on our Mountain Medicine Adventure

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:

  • An opportunity to climb the highest point in the America’s

  • Experience wilderness medicine in context, not in the classroom

  • Test your fitness & physiology while supported by highly qualified mountain guides (Andes Mountain Guides)

  • Build friendships to last a lifetime

ITINERARY: Jan - Feb. 2025

  • Day 0 - Arrange Flight to Mendoza (via Santiago or Bueno Aires)

  • Day 1 – (Thursday, Jan. 30th) Arrive in Mendoza, where we will be waiting in airport and transport to Hotel. Intro meeting and gear check and then typical Argentinean Restaurant for our Welcome Dinner. (2,428 feet)

  • Day 2 – (Friday, Jan. 31st) Early in morning we obtain madatory permits and immediately drive to Puente del Inca (8,925 feet) where we arrange the loads for the mules. Night at camp.

  • Day 3 – (Sat., Feb. 1st) Puente del Inca - Confluencia. We’ll drive to the entrance of the park and then hike about 3 hours to Confluencia Camp (11,010 feet)

  • Day 4 – (Sunday, Feb. 2nd) Plaza Francia Trek. After a 3-4 hour hike, we’ll reach the lookout of the impressive South Face of Aconcagua (13,400 feet). Return to Confluencia camp.

  • Day 5 – (Monday, Feb. 3rd) Confluencia - Plaza de Mulas. We’ll hike for about 6-8 hours to Plaza de Mulas base camp. (14,300 feet) crossing “Playa Ancha” and then climbing “Cuesta Brava”.

  • Day 6 – (Tues., Feb. 4th) Plaza de Mulas. Rest Day. We’ll just relax and enjoy the surroundings.

  • Day 7 – (Weds, Feb. 5th) Cerro Bonete - Ascend Bonete. As part of our acclimitization, we ascend Bonete 5-6 hr. round-trip. (16,700 ft)

  • Day 8 – (Thurs, Feb. 6th) Plaza de Mulas Rest Day. We’ll do a short trek to the Horcones glacier and get some practice using our crampons.

  • Day 9 – (Friday, Feb. 7th) Canada Camp. We’ll move to Canada Camp, setting up our tents there with the help of porters.

  • Day 10 – (Sat., Feb. 8th) Nido de Condores Camp. It will take us about 5 hours to reach this camp, at 18,200 feet. From here we’ll be able to see one of the best sunsets ever!

  • Day 11 – (Sunday, Feb. 9th) Nido de Condores Camp. We’ll have a full resting day, getting ready for the next push. (Rest Day)

  • Day 12 – (Monday, Feb. 10th) Berlin Camp. Reaching the highest camp will be our goal this day. After a 3-5 hour hike, we’ll reach 19,500 ft and get prepared for summit day.

  • Day 13 – (Tues., Feb. 11th) **Aconcagua Summit (22,841 ft). Early in the morning we’ll start our summit day. After reaching independencia shelter at 21,476 feet and crossing the “big traverse” we’ll start climbing the “Canaleta”. After this strenuous section we’ll traverse the Guanaco’s ridge, which will take us straight to the highest point in the western hemisphere. 10-13 hours roundtrip.

  • Day 14/15 - (Weds./Thursday Feb. 12-13th) Extra Days. We include two extra days in case of bad weather or for further acclimatization to use in high camps (in case it’s agreed to use in base camps, it has an additional lodging cost).

  • Day 16 - (Friday Feb. 14th) Berlin Camp - Plaza de Mulas. We’ll wake up late and hike down to base camp, where we’ll arrive for lunch. In the evening, we’ll prepare the mule’s loads to go down the day after.

  • Day 17 – (Sat., Feb. 15th) Plaza de Mulas to Puente del Inca. This day we’ll put on our hiking shoes again and go all the way down to the park entrance (5-7 hours) and then to our camp at Puente del Inca where we’ll spend the night. OPTIONAL: Heli Flight to the trailhead = 15 minutes, skip night in Penitentes, extra night in Mendoze (extra cost: Heli $850 + extra hotel night).

  • Day 18 – (Sunday, Feb. 16th) Puente del Inca - Mendoza. After breakfast, we’ll drive to Mendoza and check-in to our hotel. This night we’ll get together for the last dinner to celebrate the climb.

  • Day 19 – (Monday, Feb. 17th) Flight Back Home / Transfer to Airport. End of service.

THE TEAM / FACULTY:

  • The mountain logistics and leadership will be provided by extremely experienced international mountain guides from ‘Andes Mountain Guides’, whose team members have years of experience climbing Aconcagua.

  • The Wild Med Adventures Team are all mountaineers, well traveled and experienced, but are only responsible for the educational aspect of this trip. Instructors: Andrew Park, MD & Jim Schultz, MD - Please see BIO's for instructor information. (This may change depending on availability and schedules)

    Please do your own research in regards to safety and experience. Mountaineering is dangerous and despite taking all necessary precautions, you may still be injured or killed due to unpredictable avalanches, slips, falls, equipment failure and/or trauma.

PRE-REQUISITES: (Anyone can attend but mountaineering experience recommended)

  • EMT, Paramedic, Nurse, PA, NP, RRT, PhD or Physician for the CME

  • Non-Medicals are welcome to attend and will likely enjoy learning about safety in the mountains.

  • A keen interest in wilderness first aid / medicine

  • An excellent level of physical fitness (**This is a very demanding climb at altitude and with steep terrain)

  • Previous winter hill walking experience

  • Experience in the use of crampons and self arrest with an ice axe is recommended and prior basic mountaineering course is recommended as a prerequisite. Those with less experience/confidence must understand the physical demands of the environment and the risks of climbing at altitude. Prior experience is recommended. Please ask if you are unsure about your qualifications for this type of climb.

HEALTH / VACCINATIONS:

  • Delegates should be vaccinated appropriately - Please see CDC recommendations for visiting Argentina. We also recommend seeing a physician / travel medicine clinic prior to departure.

  • Delegates should be aware this is intended to be a wilderness course in every sense of the word. The team in some parts of Argentina will have limited access to medical care. This is not a packaged holiday and neither Wild Med Adventures nor AMG can control mother nature. Should our plans be affected by floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, snow storms, earthquakes and the like, we will continue with alternate plans in true expedition spirit, affecting self rescues and problem solving along the way.

MEDICAL EVACUATION INSURANCE / TRAVEL INSURANCE:

  • Delegates should have personal insurance / travel insurance to cover any in-country medical examinations, treatment or rescue/evacuation from a remote area. Rescue/Evacuation Insurance is MANDATORY. We recommend Global Rescue and they offer trip specific and year long coverage.

  • Please purchase travel insurance to cover any illnesses or injuries you may sustain prior to departure. We have had several people injure themselves or have a sick family member last minute before a course and Travel Insurance will help protect your personal investment. Depending on multiple factors, we likely cannot reimburse you so PLEASE buy insurance (see our cancellation policy below)

COSTS

  • Trip Cost with CME: $7399

  • Trip Cost Non-Medical: $6999

    • (Does NOT include Park Fees or Tips - see below)

  • Deposit: $3000

Prefer Check? Register Below.

  • Included: Certified Mountain Guides (IFMGA/AAGM/EPGAMT); 2 hotel nights in Mendoza; 2 hotel nights in Puente del Inca Camp; Assistance obtaining the permits (Fee’s not included); all meals while on mountain; Restaurant Meals in Mendoza as indicated on detailed itinerary; Camping and Cooking gear for group; 2 Nights Full Board in Confluencia Camp; 5 Nights Full Board in Plaza de Mulas basecamp; BaseCamp Services: dining tent, WC, Showers, wifi, hyperbaric chamber, emergency oxygen, High Camp Services: wifi, WC, dining tent, cooking tent, Mules for group and personal gear; porters for group gear; private ground transportation for entire trip; All CME credits & Wild Med Gift

  • Excluded: All Flights to Mendoza, airport taxes, PARK FEES $900 (must be paid in CASH) - this may vary depending on season and currency exchange, Restaurant Meals and Drinks not listed on itinerary; personal equipment; personal insurance, travel and rescue insurance; porters for personal gear; personal expenses; rescue costs and extra expenses caused by abandoning the expedition; Gratuities ($350-$400/pp); Bottled Water and/or water transportation to high camp if needed

CANCELATION POLICY

Your deposit for the travel portion of the course is nonrefundable unless the course does not reach its minimal number of participants. If we do not reach the requirement of 5 participants and we have to cancel then a full refund will be given. The entire balance of your trip fee will be due 90 days prior to departure. No refunds will be given 90 days prior to start of trip.

If you have not paid in full 90 days prior JAN. 30TH a $500 fee will be applied or we have the right to cancel your trip.

  • We have a minimum registration requirement of 5 participants and a maximum of 16. If the course is cancelled due to insufficient registration you will receive a full refund INCLUDING DEPOSIT.

    Please contact us before purchasing plane tickets to confirm minimum number of registrants.

  • We recommend booking a refundable Flight in case of natural disasters, pandemics, or other necessarily and unseen cancellations.

    (We are unable to reimburse flight costs for any reason)

FACULTY STATEMENT AND DISCLOSURE:

  • It is the policy of the Wild Med Adventures, LLC to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor. All faculty members are required to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the content of their presentations.

  • Accordingly, the Wilderness Medical Society has determined there are no conflicts to report associated with this conference.

  • ACCME Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) and Wild Med Adventures. The WMS is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

  • The Wilderness Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 20.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Each physician should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • All educational content presented in this activity has been reviewed and validated as appropriate in keeping with sound scientific principles. 

  • We are NOT guides. Wild Med Adventures sets up the trip with Local Resources and Guides but we are responsible for the Education/CME only. Andes Mountain Guides many years of mountain guiding will be our local guides. These activities are high risk and clients assume responsibility of all illnesses and injuries that may be obtained in this foreign & remote travel adventure trip.

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Wild Med Adventures, LLC strives to add that personal touch to your learning experience. Many adventures are awaiting and we are interested in your ideas or customized trips for large groups.