The mountaineers from the Club Andino Nevados de Chillan (CAN), which belongs to the Ñuble Mountaineering Association and the Chilean Mountaineering Federation, Marcela Hidalgo and Fidelina Aravena, are preparing to take part in a historic expedition in January 2025.
The mission is one: to conquer the summit of Mount Aconcagua, which has a height of 6,961 meters above sea level and is known as “The Roof of Latin America.”
To carry out this challenging project, the athletes, who are looking for sponsors, have the support of Las Bravas Mountainstore, a store located in Valle Las Trancas that specializes in mountain sports. They also receive physical training (aerobic resistance and muscle strengthening) from the Club Runners de Chillán, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 7 to 8 pm, at the Quilamapu Sports Center and technical advice from instructor Daniel Rutllant (www.alacumbre.cl).
This professional has a high mountain and ski mountaineering qualification.
He is an instructor with international certification from UIAA (TS) and UIMLA together with the ACGM. He has carried out national and international expeditions in the Himalayas (over 8000 meters above sea level) and scientific expeditions in Antarctica and the Southern and Northern Ice Fields.
“To carry out this expedition, you need training for a highly demanding activity, specialized technical equipment (tents, GPS, communication equipment, sleeping bags for low temperatures, among others), clothing and footwear to withstand the low temperatures and travel in the mountains, and adequate food. Financing logistical aspects such as permits to access the park, mules for portage, and transfers to and from Chile,” says Marcela Hidalgo.
“Logistics requires planning that takes into account issues such as: the weather, the number of days to consider in this expedition, food, transfers to and from Chile, equipment, medical examinations, planning meetings and all those aspects that allow me to successfully carry out this challenge,” he explains.
The expedition
The expedition will take place in January 2025. They plan to ascend the normal route, which involves 18 days of adventure. The route will begin at the Puente del Inka at 2,700 meters above sea level and will reach the summit at 6,961 meters above sea level. The climbers will acclimatize using the saw technique, carrying technical equipment and food between the camps: Penitentes, Confluencia, Plaza Francia, Plaza Mulas, Plaza Canadá, Nido de Cóndores and Plaza Cólera.
Marcela Hidalgo is a mother of three children. She is an agronomist with a PhD in Agricultural Sciences, specializing in soil carbon dynamics and with extensive technical training in mountaineering from the University of Concepción, Chillán Campus.
She has climbed the Pallachata sector (Parinacota Hills 6,342 m above sea level and Pomerape Hills 6,282 m above sea level), Ojos del Salado 6,893 m above sea level, reached summits on Marmolejo Hills 6,110 m above sea level, San José Hills 5,860 m above sea level, Guallatire Hills 6,080 m above sea level, Nevados de Chillán Hills 3,251 m above sea level and was the first female ascent of Las Minas Hill. She has also climbed several summits throughout the Andes Mountains, abroad, glacier transit practice and ice climbing in the Vilcanota Mountains in Peru and Cerro Perla in South Africa.
Fidelina Aravena is a commercial engineer and outstanding mountaineer. She has reached several summits nationwide: Nevados Ojos del Salado, Atacama 6,893 masl, summit 2 times; Llullaillco Volcano, Antofagasta, 6,739 masl Attempt; Parinacota Volcano, Arica 6,342 masl, summit; Aucanquilcha Volcano, Antofagasta 6,176 masl, summit among others along the Andes mountain range. Outside of Chile she also has achievements: Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador, 6,263 masl, summit; Llullaillco Volcano, Argentina, 6,739 masl, Attempt; Cayambe Volcano, Ecuador, 5,790 masl, summit; Licancabur Volcano, Bolivia, 5,920 masl, summit twice. Iliniza North Volcano, Ecuador, 5,126 masl, summit, Iztaccíhuatl, Mexico, 5,230 masl, summit, Nevado Pisco Volcano, Peru, 5,752 masl, summit, Nevado Quisoquipina, Peru, 5,650 masl, summit. Glacier transit and ice climbing clinic on Hermoso Glacier, Ecuador.
Marcela and Fidelina analyze every detail and will continue preparing to leave their mark on the summit of the Roof of Latin America.
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