Mountain: Aconcagua
Route: South Face
Country: Argentina
Height: 6961 meters / 22,837 feet
Dates of Expedition: December, 1984
Overview of climb: The French (Paragot) Route on the South Face of Aconcagua was in my consciousness for some years as one of Robert Paragot's famous three first ascents. It ascends a huge elevation gain (nearly 3000 meters) of very varied terrain from steep rock to steep ice and alpine mixed.
Team Members: Sharon Wood, Carlos Buhler
Lasting Impression:
The "easy approach" factor of this face was a logistical attraction for us after our lengthy and complex expedition to Makalu's West Pillar five months earlier. The face required respect, however. After reading the history of tragedies on the South Face, we took a 5 day supply of food and gear to endure a possble change of weather and varying conditions. Fortunately, the weather remained stable for us. The serac barrier proved to be the crux of the face and a scary pitch of vertical ice and snow to lead. Sharon commented that this face was far more difficult than the Cassin Route on the South Face of Denali after having ascended both routes. She became the 2nd woman to ascend the face.
