Who are Andes and More?
Our main guide, Nacho Lucero, is born and bred in Mendoza, Argentina, and has been a professional mountaineer, working
as a high altitude guide on Aconcagua for 17 years, and has been climbing the Andes longer than that. He has also been on
the other side of the fence, travelling to other mountains in the world and climbing them as a "client" of the local guides.
He has even snowboarded back down 6000m Plata. As well as his native Spanish, Nacho speaks English and French. He is especially
concerned about your health and safety on the mountain which is why he insists on taking clients for medical tests in Mendoza
before setting off on the expedition.
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| Nacho in the Karakoram |
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| Nacho in Ireland |
His CV is impressive and this year he is hoping to add Gasherbrum
II (8035m) to it.
Ignacio Lucero (Nacho)
National Climbing
Instructor
High Altitude
Mountain Guide AAGM (Associación argentina de guías de montaña)
More than
17 years experience working on Aconcagua
Speaks Spanish,
English and French.
He has climbed...
Argentina
More than 30 other mountains between 3000m and 6000m.
Chile
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Ojos de Salado 6891m
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Villa Rica 2847m
Peru
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Toquiaraju 6036m
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Chopicalqui 6354m
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Urus 5430m
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Ishinca 5530m
Ecuador
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Chimborazo 6310m
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Cotopaxi 5897m
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Iliniza Zur 5263m
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Iliniza Norte 5216m
France
Spain
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Aneto 3404m
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Almanzor 2592m
Nacho got to 7740m on Gasherbrum II (8035m) in June-July 2008.
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| Karakoram 08 |
It may be necessary on occasion to use another guide, in case of illness or any other eventuality, but Andes and More
will ensure that the substitute guide is personally known to us and has a good reputation.
The organisation is done from Northern
Ireland by Gillian who has worked in Marketing for almost 20 years and has travelled extensively worldwide, including backpacking
through South America for a year, over a month of which she spent in Mendoza. Gillian is fluent in Spanish, can communicate
in French, and of course speaks English too.
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| Gillian and Aconcagua |
Andes and More – an ethical business
Porters:
We don’t take any commission or touch their money in any way, as the majority of them are university students who work
as porters to pay for their studies.
Cooks:
We pay them well so that they can have life, incapacity and accident insurance.
Mule handlers:
We pay them well so that they have good living conditions.
Transport:
We only use authorised transport companies.
Andes and More and the Environment of Aconcagua
Our company has a real interest in the environment and we actively look for ways to protect
it. We are the only company who is licensed by the state to chemically treat excreta. We are always careful not to leave a
trail of rubbish.
Renewable energy sources: We have
sources of clean energy such as wind and solar powered generators.
Rubbish clearance: We always
clear our rubbish from the high camps and carry bags for rubbish so that nothing is thrown away inside the Provincial Park.
Water management: Our company
treats the shower and dishwater that we use in our camps using biodegradable detergents and filters. Andes and More owns showers, the only ones in Plaza de Mulas. We use pH neutral soap in these showers as part
of our commitment to maintaining the environment of Aconcagua.
Aconcagua used to have a reputation for being a fairly dirty mountain. But in the late 80's
the mountain was literally cleaned up and now the Provincial Park ensures that it remains clean. The Park has very strict
rules that must be obeyed by service providers, guides and mountaineers alike. When you enter the Provincial Park, you are
given a numbered plastic bag for your rubbish. If you don't hand this bag back to the Park Rangers, full of rubbish, when
you leave the Park at the end of your expedition, you will be fined. Any expedition rubbish that is brought back down the
mountain by mules is also subject to the same strict rules. Andes and More ensures that all its climbers follow the Park rules
regarding rubbish removal.
The Provincial Park also has rules
regarding sanitation. Toilets must be built to comply with Park guidelines, and at the base camps, climbers must use the toilet
facilities provided. The toilets that Andes and More owns in Plaza de Mulas comply with the rules. Liquid waste is evaporated
rather than going into the ground and solid waste is removed from the mountain in accordance with the Park regulations. All
our groups have full access to these toilets. In the higher camps there are no fixed toilets, but again, Park rules apply
and all waste must be removed from the mountain. Andes and More insists that all its expedition members honour these rules.
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