Posted: Feb 15, 2006 10:46 am EST
(Mounteverest.net) Climbers currently in Mendoza, Argentina have just reported to ExplorersWeb on some records and ‘firsts’ recently achieved on Aconcagua.

On February 3, Peruvian Holmes Pantoja Bayona completed the fastest ascent on Aconcagua (6962 m) to date, according to NuestraMontaña.com. Holmes reached the summit in only 13 hours – scoring a total time from and to Horcones Valley (2850m) of 20 hours and 35 minutes. The previous record was held by Argentinean Willie Benegas – who climbed to the summit and back in approximately 23 hours.

Chocolate, music and snickers

Two days prior, 28 year old Holmes acclimatized on Cerro Penitentes (4880m). The Peruvian climber, who also works as a guide in the area, ran up the normal route from Horcones Valley, taking along nothing more than some chocolate, water and a CD player. He wore sneakers instead of rougher mountain boots.

Damian Benegas (precisely ex-record holder Willie’s twin brother) has also been guiding three consecutive teams this season to the roof of South America. Among them, a lady climber who accomplished the first female ski descent of the Polish Glacier.

How's Aconcagua looking now?

Speaking of Aconcagua, climbers might check the mountain’s conditions live, on AconcaguaNow, a website working during the peak’s climbing season. It includes web-cam images from BC that are updated every ten minutes.

Story corrected on Feb 28, 2006. Holmes Pantoja notified ExWeb that his Aconcagua speed record was achieved covering the distance from and to Horcones Valley (2850m), and not from BC to BC (4200m) as we had originally written.

At 6962m, Aconcagua - meaning the Stone Sentinel - is the highest mountain in the American Continent. It is located in Mendoza region, Argentina.

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