Fer has been working organizing logistics in Aconcagua for over 20 years. He is an avid all around climber, trail runner, snowboarder and biker. His climbing career has taken him to the summits of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablan, El Cap and Aconcagua (several times, including a 27:30 hs car to car ascent of the Normal route).
Fer lives in Mendoza (most of the year) with his wife. He loves to take long runs in the nearby hills.
Fer has been working organizing logistics in Aconcagua for over 20 years. He is an avid all around climber, trail runner, snowboarder and biker. His climbing career has taken him to the summits of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablan, El Cap and Aconcagua (several times, including a 27:30 hs car to car ascent of the Normal route).
Fer lives in Mendoza (most of the year) with his wife. He loves to take long runs in the nearby hills.
In 1976, Fernando Grajales sold his farm to start up a guiding company at the foot of Mt. Aconcagua. It turned out that it was a good idea. Eventually, venturing into the mountains became popular, and Grajales Expeditions made history by obtaining the first license ever granted to provide services in Aconcagua. By then, a lot of water had flowed down the mountain streams; the Mendocino entrepreneur was already a seasoned andinista. After a solo Aconcagua summit in 1952 by the Normal route, he had taken part in the first climb of the southwest ridge, one of the first technical routes on the mountain. The Andean endeavour was perfect preparation for the 1954 Argentine expedition to the still unclimbed Dhaulagiri (26,795 ft/8.167 m), in which Fernando handled most of the logistics. Four climbers reached 8.000 m, and the expedition obtained international recognition. Grajales decided to apply this experience to his own logistics and guiding service. He settled down and formed a family, too. Mabel, his wife, and Fernando jr, their son, shared the burden of the first seasons, living half the year in Mendoza and the other half in the mountain. The family venture rapidly became synonymous with Aconcagua. Don Fernando, with his calm, methodical ways, kept running the business until his early death in 2004. His legacy lives on.
FERNANDO GRAJALES Sr.
The Founder
In 1976, Fernando Grajales sold his farm to start up a guiding company at the foot of Mt. Aconcagua. It turned out that it was a good idea. Eventually, venturing into the mountains became popular, and Grajales Expeditions made history by obtaining the first license ever granted to provide services in Aconcagua. By then, a lot of water had flowed down the mountain streams; the Mendocino entrepreneur was already a seasoned andinista. After a solo Aconcagua summit in 1952 by the Normal route, he had taken part in the first climb of the southwest ridge, one of the first technical routes on the mountain. The Andean endeavour was perfect preparation for the 1954 Argentine expedition to the still unclimbed Dhaulagiri (26,795 ft/8.167 m), in which Fernando handled most of the logistics. Four climbers reached 8.000 m, and the expedition obtained international recognition. Grajales decided to apply this experience to his own logistics and guiding service. He settled down and formed a family, too. Mabel, his wife, and Fernando jr, their son, shared the burden of the first seasons, living half the year in Mendoza and the other half in the mountain. The family venture rapidly became synonymous with Aconcagua. Don Fernando, with his calm, methodical ways, kept running the business until his early death in 2004. His legacy lives on.
Booking & Logistics
It is unlikely that you will meet Florencia during your expedition, as she works behind the curtains. But make no mistake:, she is there, 24/7, making things happen for you. Flor handles all the complex schedule of hotel reservations and transfers to and from the mountain. She also makes sure that the Mendoza office, the logistics center at Penitentes and the base camps are properly coordinated and running smoothly. She knows the business, as she´s been working with us since 2005.
A former first division field hockey keeper, Flor splits her winters between her keepers school and her patients as physiotherapist -and the occasional mountaineering trip-. She´s climbed in Perú, Nepal, Europe and, of course, has summited Aconcagua. She is married and lives in Mendoza.
Flor handles all the complex schedule of hotel reservations and transfers to and from the mountain. She also makes sure that the Mendoza office, the logistics center at Penitentes and the base camps are properly coordinated and running smoothly. She knows the business, as she´s been working with us since 2005.
Flor splits her winters between her keepers school and her patients as physiotherapist -and the occasional mountaineering trip-. She´s climbed in Perú, Nepal, Europe and, of course, has summited Aconcagua.
A former newspaper editor, Nico left the newsroom for the mountains -he wrote 3 books and countless articles about nature in the process-. He’s been with Grajales Expeditions for 8 years, and currently handles everything client-related, and also writes for our website and blog.
A job that he enjoys as much as a tough mountain bike race in the desert. As per achievements, he claims to hold a record obtaining Aconcagua permits in high season (non stop).
A former newspaper editor, Nico left the newsroom for the mountains -he wrote 3 books and countless articles about nature in the process-. He’s been with Grajales Expeditions for 8 years, and currently handles everything client-related, and also writes for our website and blog.
A job that he enjoys as much as a tough mountain bike race in the desert. As per achievements, he claims to hold a record obtaining Aconcagua permits in high season (non stop).
Elvira has a degree in psychology and has specialized in organizational psychology. She is currently pursuing a career as a trekking guide.
She handles our Human Resources, a task that allows her to visit the base camps from time to time -one of the things that Elvira loves about the job. In fact, Elvi is involved in a ground-breaking study about the effects of hypoxia in mental health. Elvira lives in Mendoza all year round.
Elvira has a degree in psychology and has specialized in organizational psychology. She is currently pursuing a career as a trekking guide.
She handles our Human Resources, a task that allows her to visit the base camps from time to time -one of the things that Elvira loves about the job. In fact, Elvi is involved in a ground-breaking study about the effects of hypoxia in mental health. Elvira lives in Mendoza all year round.
Whether on foot, on horseback, at the wheel or bossing around at Los Penitentes, Eduardo is a true mountain man. Born at the feet of the mountains 47 years ago, he has been doing all sorts of mountain-related endeavours since then (some of them, too odd to include in a resume). Being around horses and gauchos (and bossing around at Los Penitentes) are his preferred activities, second only to being at home with his lovely family (wife and two children).
Eduardo supervising the mules in its off-season ranch.
Warehouse Logistics
Whether on foot, on horseback, at the wheel or bossing around at Los Penitentes, Eduardo is a true mountain man. Born at the feet of the mountains 47 years ago, he has been doing all sorts of mountain-related endeavours since then (some of them, too odd to include in a resume). Being around horses and gauchos (and bossing around at Los Penitentes) are his preferred activities, second only to being at home with his lovely family (wife and two children).
