Aconcagua, Descent by Parachute. A Frenchman, Alain Estève, first climbed Aconcagua solo but failed after four hours of effort to take off by a special kind of parachute (parapente). On January 10, accompanied by other French climbers, he returned to the summit. He was soon airborne but barely escaped being blown over the south face. He then successfully glided down over the normal Canaleta route.