Brazilians on Aconcagua: A Journey of Achievements, Challenges, and Learning

In 2024, Gear Tips, Grajales Expeditions, and deuter launched a campaign to take two Brazilians on an expedition to Aconcagua. The goal was to reach the summit of the most iconic and highest mountain in the Americas, standing at 6,961 m in altitude.

In this article, the selected participants, Giane Triches and Mack Willison, share their experiences—from the preparation with the support of Gear Tips’ multidisciplinary team to the main challenges, achievements, sensations, and, most importantly, the lessons learned from this intense journey.

She Traded the Office for Nature and Conquered the Summit of Aconcagua

“The best experiences of our lives come when we dare to step out of our comfort zone. My purpose is to inspire people to live more and challenge themselves.” This statement by Giane Triches has now gained even more significance: the conquest of the Aconcagua summit.

Giane describes herself as an enthusiast for exploring experiences and adventures—hiking, mountaineering, and extreme sports. She has been traveling solo since 2009 and began sharing her experiences on social media, in addition to organizing expeditions with specialized guides. “When I left my career as an engineer, I had a dream of living more in the world and less in the office, to inspire people.”

Giane Trinches on Aconcagua

To face the challenge of climbing the highest mountain in the Americas, Giane underwent intense preparation with sports doctor and mountaineer Fernanda May, nutritionist Homero Munaretti, and physical trainer Ana Zimmer. Additionally, she traveled to Mount Roraima a month before.

“Aconcagua is an iconic and challenging mountain. I was aware that I would face difficulties. I trained not only physically but also mentally to overcome them, ensuring that my mind was truly present and connected to the mountain. I wanted to test my limits and inspire others to do the same.”

One Step at a Time and the Inspiration to Reach Aconcagua’s Summit

Giane describes the expedition as a transformative experience. “The days were intense, but I enjoyed the entire process. I was able to live each moment, step by step. That was crucial in allowing me to reach the summit. The entire journey is just as important as making it to the top. I was able to connect with all my emotions.”

Despite the headaches and pressure caused by the altitude, Giane felt safe with the support she received. “The Grajales acclimatization program is very efficient, including necessary rest days to not only recover but also to look at the mountain and ask for permission! Plus, I was virtually accompanied by Fernanda May.”

Another factor that worked in their favor was the weather, which allowed the group to experience the best window of the season and witness an incredible view from nearly 7,000 m in altitude. “We arrived under clear blue skies and had an open view from the top. We could enjoy it for about an hour before seeing the clouds approaching, bringing with them a snowstorm. From that moment on, we couldn’t see anything else, but since we were euphoric about achieving our goal, that scenario only made the experience even richer.”

Giane at the summit of Aconcagua

The group’s integration and synergy—seven participants and two guides—was fundamental in keeping everyone motivated to achieve a shared goal: reaching Aconcagua’s summit. “One of the Grajales guides, trained in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), told us from Mendoza that what would get us to the summit was our mindset. We had deep conversations and also moments of relaxation as a group.”

During difficult times, Giane had the opportunity to be inspired by others and to inspire them in return. “At one point, I was in the middle of the group and felt like I couldn’t keep up. When I asked the person behind me to pass, they said, ‘Come on, one step at a time,’ and walked beside me. Later, I had the chance to do the same for another teammate. Our group included Spaniards, an Indian, an Australian, and an Italian. Everyone made it to the summit! You don’t have to be the strongest person in the world, but you need to be surrounded by people who believe in you.”

Giane recalls that upon reaching the summit, she was overwhelmed with emotion and exhaustion. “When I saw the cross and realized I had made it, I tried to cry with joy, but I couldn’t breathe! I had to pause for five minutes to catch my breath. Then I finally managed to cry with deep emotion, realizing that I had done it. It was beautiful to see the group hugging and thanking each other for making it to the top. I had never gone so far, and I feel proud of what I accomplished.”

Another source of inspiration that helped Giane stay strong on her journey came from the multidisciplinary team at Gear Tips: “The guidance was essential, and I followed it to the letter. I was aware of what to do at all times. Fernanda was with me daily, guiding and motivating me with professional advice, as a friend, and as an experienced mountaineer. On the physical side, with each challenge, I understood Ana’s recommendations even better. Homero’s advice and monitoring to eat well and consume plenty of carbohydrates were invaluable.”

There was no shortage of food! One of the challenges mountaineers face during the Aconcagua expedition is the lack of appetite caused by altitude, but according to Giane, the group managed to overcome it thanks to the high quality of service provided by Grajales. “The infrastructure is wonderful. The meals prepared by a chef were delicious. We had appetizers, main courses, and desserts. When we returned from the treks, we found tables set with cold cuts, fruit, and pizza. We ate with our eyes first!”

Now, Giane is off on her next adventure!

Upon returning to Mendoza after achieving one of her greatest accomplishments, Giane experienced a feeling that is quite common among mountaineers. “After eight months of intense preparation, when the expedition ended, I asked myself: what now?”

The good news for her followers and admirers is that Giane has already chosen the destination for her next adventure. Soon, she will be heading to Nepal.

The Journey Matters More Than Reaching the Summit: Mack Willison’s Experience

Mack Willison, the second selected participant in the campaign promoted by Gear Tips, Grajales Expeditions, and deuter, had the dream of becoming the first person from Acre (state in the North of Brazil) to conquer the summit of Aconcagua. A certified tour guide and mountaineer since 2013, Mack leads expeditions to destinations in Peru and Bolivia.

Illustrative image generated by artificial intelligence

His closest experience to the 7,000 m altitude of Aconcagua was at the dormant Parinacota volcano, on the border between northern Chile and Bolivia in the Andes region, which stands at 6,348 m. Additionally, he has climbed more than 60 mountains of 5,000 m and reached altitudes of 6,000 m ten times while guiding clients. “The body’s response to altitude is not an exact science, and adaptation can vary from one expedition to another.”

Before embarking on the noble mission of representing his home state on the highest mountain in the Americas, Mack also received support from Fernanda May, Homero Munaretti, and Ana Zimmer. “The training in nutrition and physical preparation specifically for the mountain gave me a huge upgrade, adding to the experience I already had. I’ve always been very self-taught. Having professionals by my side made all the difference.”

Every mountaineer prepares for adversity, and Mack was no exception. However, the desert-like climate, drier than the regions where he usually trains and leads expeditions, proved to be one of the challenges during the journey: “I had never experienced such dry air penetrating my body, especially affecting my breathing. The winds were mild at first, but on the third day, we faced gusts of up to 40 km/h.”

As the only Brazilian in a group of six people and two Grajales guides, Mack felt fine until the second day of trekking. However, after walking for about three hours toward Plaza Argentina, at 4,300 m altitude, he began feeling unusually fatigued and short of breath. “I started walking slower with one of the guides while the others went ahead, thinking that the acclimatization process was affecting me in some way. I stopped by the medical camp, and everything seemed fine.”

After a day of rest, Mack continued the expedition, carrying his gear to an altitude of 5,000 m. “I wasn’t sure if I could make it, but everyone encouraged me, so I packed a lighter backpack. The guides helped carry some of my gear, and I started climbing. But after the first 300 meters, I stopped, realizing it was too difficult to continue. I redistributed even more weight among the guides, which helped, but I could only manage another 50 vertical meters. At that moment, I knew I couldn’t go any further and decided to preserve my body.”

Mack was right. Upon arriving at the medical camp, he was diagnosed with the early stages of pulmonary edema. “If you don’t descend in altitude, it can become a critical situation. I started treatment there before beginning the evacuation process. I wanted to walk back, but there was no way. I was rescued by helicopter and taken to a nearby hospital, which confirmed the diagnosis. My decision, together with the doctor at the medical camp, was absolutely correct. If I had pushed myself, I might have reached the summit, but I certainly wouldn’t have been able to descend easily.”

Mack received full support from Grajales and Gear Tips. Currently, he is following a specialized respiratory exercise program guided by Ana Zimmer, along with ongoing follow-up from Fernanda May.

“I felt frustrated because I have been working in mountaineering for 12 years. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve climbed countless mountains above 6,000 m. But that’s how it is: you can have years of experience, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to summit Aconcagua that year.”

Although Mack did not reach the summit of the highest mountain in the Americas, he fulfilled his mission of representing the state of Acre. His flag was carried by his Indian teammate and the rest of the group. “Outdoor activities bring people together. I asked him to carry the flag, and the entire group represented me at the summit. The flag made it, Acre made it! In terms of commitment, I accomplished my goal with the support of a team of mountaineers who embraced the cause.”

Like any true mountaineer, Mack does not plan to give up and is already planning his return to Aconcagua: “If my body is still capable, I will be back in two years. Maybe even sooner!”

Acre thanks you, and so do we!

Thinking about an expedition to Aconcagua?

Check out the full article we wrote about Aconcagua.
In this video, Maria Fernanda May and Pedro Lacaz Amaral host an in-depth discussion about Aconcagua with Ilan Zeimer and Bettina Morales, two experienced guides from Grajales Expeditions, along with nutritionist Homero Munaretti. Watch it here:
https://geartips.club/plus/filme_video/live-expedicao-aconcagua/

This post is also available in: Português (Portuguese (Brazil)) Español (Spanish)