Aconcagua (6,959 m) is the highest mountain of North and South America and at once the highest mountain out of Asia and the highest mountain of Western and Southern hemisphere. It is quoted that thanks to it's location near the ocean and exposition to the ocean winds it matches with the 8,000 m peaks in Himalayas in a climatic way. It surmounts it's neighbours by 1,000 metres and it is said that it is visible from the Pacific coast in nice weather. It is created by sandwiched volcanic layers athough it's not a volcano itself. South face is the fifth biggest cliff in the world with it's relative hight of 2,500 metres. Despite it's hight Aconcagua is accessible by normal way without climbing, but because of possible low temperature (30°C below zero), strong snowstorms (called viento blanco) and high altitude the climb can be very dangerous. I knew all that when I set out to the mountain in January 1998. Thanks to a solid piece of good luck I could avoid all the traps, which are lurking there for every "Andinist", and reach my desired la cumbre.