January 2024 – Epic Summits in the Dry Andes: Ojos del Salado, Mount Pissis & More
What a start to 2024! Our Ojos del Salado expedition, led by Andes Specialists, evolved into a true multi-peak adventure in the heart of the Puna de Atacama. With climbs of Ojos del Salado, Mount Pissis, Cerro San Francisco, Incahuasi, and Tres Cruces Sur, this was one of our most complete itineraries in the Dry Andes.
🧭 Expedition Summary: Ojos del Salado First
Our team of international climbers all came with one common goal: to reach the summit of Ojos del Salado (6,893m) — the highest active volcano in the world.
We began the journey in Chile, carrying everything needed to survive in one of the harshest, driest environments on Earth — the Puna de Atacama. The climb to Ojos was a huge success, with nearly the entire team reaching the summit under clear skies and favorable conditions.
🏔️ Then, Onto Mount Pissis (6,793m)
After summiting Ojos, a select group crossed the Chile-Argentina border on January 17th to tackle Mount Pissis, the third-highest peak in South America. That team included:
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Serge Sytch 🇨🇦
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Francine Saueia 🇧🇷
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John Lilly 🇺🇸
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Balthazar Ploch 🇨🇱
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Maximo Kausch (Expedition Leader) 🇧🇷🇦🇷🇬🇧
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Lucia Muggia 🇮🇹
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Marco Fasanella 🇮🇹
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Angel Armesto 🇦🇷
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Matias Cruz 🇦🇷
This elite group spent six days climbing Mount Pissis, reaching its isolated summit in great conditions before making the return to Argentina.
🏔️ More Summits: Incahuasi & Tres Cruces Sur
While most of the team wrapped up their expedition after Ojos and Pissis, four climbers continued their Andean journey even further:
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Matias Cruz, Angel Armesto, Lucia Muggia, and Marco Fasanella stayed in Argentina to summit Mount Incahuasi (6,638m), followed by Tres Cruces Sur (6,742m) — both impressive high-altitude achievements.
✅ Bonus Summit: Cerro San Francisco (6,018m)
Before all this, the entire team also climbed Cerro San Francisco, a 6,000-meter peak that served as both a perfect acclimatization climb and an inspiring warm-up for Ojos. With fantastic views and strong performances, the team gelled from day one.
🧑🤝🧑 Staff & Support Team
This complex expedition wouldn’t be possible without our elite team of high-altitude professionals:
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Maximo Kausch – Expedition Leader – 🇬🇧🇧🇷🇦🇷
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Angel Armesto – High-Altitude Guide – 🇦🇷
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Fernando Abdalla – IFMGA Certified Guide – 🇧🇷
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Baltazar Ploch – High-Altitude Guide – 🇨🇱
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Matias Cruz – High-Altitude Guide – 🇦🇷
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Eduardo Tonetti – Assistant Guide – 🇧🇷
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Lilian – Expedition Cook – 🇨🇱
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Ercio – 4×4 Driver and Logistics – 🇨🇱
🌍 Why Climb Ojos del Salado with Andes Specialists?
From Ojos del Salado equipment logistics to safe and strategic acclimatization, our team has been organizing expeditions to the Dry Andes for over a decade. If you’re considering the Best Time to Climb Ojos del Salado, January remains a top choice for weather, snow conditions, and accessibility.
As your trusted company for Ojos del Salado, we provide:
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Custom itineraries including Mount Pissis, San Francisco, Tres Cruces, and more
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Multilingual UIAGM/IFMGA-certified guides
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Satellite comms, 4×4 support, and complete mountain logistics
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Options for Ojos del Salado 2026 already available!
Ready for Your Dry Andes Expedition?
If you’re dreaming of standing atop the world’s highest volcano, now is the time to plan your Ojos del Salado 2026 expedition with Andes Specialists.
Thanks to our amazing January 2024 team — you made this an expedition to remember. See you on the next summit!
– Andes Specialists Team