South America Adventure Travel

3 Peaks in Patagonia


This trip takes us to 3 summits in Patagonia: Cerro Solo, Punta Velluda and Gorra Blanca/Cerro Marconi Norte; each peak presents a challenge in itself. This trip's characteristics are summit days (big pushes) followed by a day to move camp (recovery day). The climbing has an incredible location directly in front of the 3 main natural wonders of the area: Cerro Torre, Cerro Fitz Roy and the Southern Patagonian ice field.


3 Peaks in Patagonia Trip Details

  • Skill level: Snow slopes up to 45 degrees. Participants should be able to carry loads up to 20 kg (45 lbs) personal porters available.
  • Location: Los Glaciares N.P, Patagonia Argentina
  • Length: 13 days
  • Climber/guide ratio: 3:1
  • Capacity: 9
  • Prerequisites: Excellent physical shape required. Experience on using crampons is recommended.
  • Cost: US $3,400
  • Departure dates
    • 12/12/08
    • 1/16/09
Included
  • Certified Mountain Guide (English-Spanish)
  • All food when trekking/climbing
  • All the restaurant meals at El Calafate and at El Chalten (drinks not included)
  • Insurance: Liability and personal accident coverage
  • Two nights in a Hotel
  • Two-person four season tents
  • All ground transportation during the trip
  • Group technical gear (ropes, snow shovel, maps, G.P.S, compass, etc)
  • Cooking gear (pots, pans, stoves, fuel, etc)
  • First aid kit VHF/UHF Radio
Not included

3 Peaks in Patagonia Trip Itinerary



Day 0 Buenos Aires
Day 1 Buenos Aires - El Calafate. El Calafate is our meeting point and where the trip gets started. We check the gear, brief the trip, and get any last minute details. We'll be waiting for you in the airport, and will then take a 4 ˝ hour private bus to El Chaltén. We'll travel towards the mountains passing by turquoise glacial lakes such as Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma. Hotel and dinner.
Day 2 D'Agostini camp. Wake up in the youngest town in Argentina (est. 1985) and start moving after a good breakfast; 2 ˝ hour hike to D'Agostini Camp, at the base of Cerro Torre. A lot of climbing history surrounds us! World-class climbers have attempted these mountains since 1930.
Day 3 Glacier Torre. Leave D'Agostini Camp towards Glacier Grande, mostly known as Glacier Torre. We go through ice techniques, glacier travel, crevasse rescue, rope management, etc. Most guests know these techniques, however it'll be a good refresher. In addition, running this refresher course on the best ice playground in the world is definitely an add-on!
Day 4 Cerro Solo Camp. Break down camp, travel light with food for two days; move camp to the foot of Cerro Solo. After a Tyrolean crossing (zip line with pulley over the river) of the Fitz Roy river, we mainly hike/scramble on rock terrain. We may find some short roping sections where use of hands is welcome. Surrounded with spectacular views we pitch camp at the foot of Cerro Solo's lower glacier.
Day 5 Cerro Solo. Summit day, 4 am up and ready to go! Ascending 30-35 degree mixed (scree and snow) terrain, we get to a glacier bottleneck, where the upper glacier joins the lower glacier. We must pass a short section of 45 degrees crossing a very nice bergschrund followed by 1-2 hours to summit! From here you'll be able to see all the main ranges: Cerro Torre, Las Adelas, south face of Fitz Roy, and the Hielo Continental with the Mariano Moreno range. Depending on time and fatigue we may break down camp and continue down to D'Agostini Camp.
Day 6 D'Agostini Camp. Back to Camp D'agostini or back up in case of bad weather
Day 7 Poincenot Camp. Moving day. We hike 2 hours to our next camp carrying only our daypacks; horses or porters carry the rest of the gear directly in front of the Fitz Roy Range! We continue up to gain the Loma de las Pizarras ridge. From here we walk along Laguna Madre e Hija and as soon as we leave them behind the Fitz Roy range comes in to view! We set up camp have a welcome dinner and a good night rest before our second summit.
Day 8 Punta Velluda. Alpine start (early!), climb 400 meters on a very easy and well-marked trail. We will arrive at Laguna de los Tres by sunrise surrounded by glowing red mountains. We cross the run-off of the Laguna de los Tres ascend to meet our guide who will take us on a short rope passing some rock sections. We will cross the snout of Glacier de los Tres. with Fitz Roy in the backdrop (makes a good picture). Some short rock sections and a 45-degree snow slope separates us from the summit of Punta Velluda. Depending on time and snow conditions, we may walk down to Glacier Piedras Blancas or the foot of Fitz Roy foot!
Day 9 Piedra del Fraile camp. Move camp. We will pass in front of a hanging glacier crossing Priedras Blancas to arrive at the hut located in the Rio Electrico Valley. The facilities are basic. However, we may be lucky and get a hot shower!!
Day 10 Glacier Marconi. With food for 3 days we head to Glacier Marconi which is one of the accesses to the ice cap. Most Patagonian winds and weather come from west/north and funnel through passes such as this one. We'll have an early start and breakfast then break down camp. We get on the Marconi Glacier (combination of bare ice and rock), making our way to the base of "Cambio de Pendiente" (sloped change referring to angle). Rope up, put on harnesses and crampons for a section of 40 to 45 degrees and 1 hour on the ice. We reach Marconi Pass with breath taking views of the 3rd largest mass of fresh water in the world. Surrounded with views of the Koliker Range, Lautaro Range, Gaea Range and Mariano Moreno Range the effort put in is given back. Camping night. 800-meter altitude gain, 14 km. (8 to 10 hours).
Day 11 Marconi Norte/Gorra Blanca. Summit day! Early wake up call. Light backpacks, only stuff for the day. Our goal is Gorra Blanca summit. We make our way through seracs and crevasses aiming for the west ridge. After getting on the ridge, we head east zig zagging ice mushroom. Our guide may fix the last pitch to the summit. If weather is good you won't believe the views that will unfold. Casually head back to hut/camp to celebrate the nice day out. 1,200 altitude gain (8 to 12 hours depending on snow conditions and fitness of guests). We may also consider going up on Marconi Norte depending on weather.
Day 12 El Chalten. Break down camp and descend to Piedra del Fraile. After a brief stop, we continue for two hours through Lenga and Ńires forest (Beech tree, Nothofagus family) reaching Puente del Rio Electrico. A private minibus will be waiting to drive us on the 45-minute to El Chalten; hotel, hot showers (again!) and a succulent barbecue.
Day 13 El Calafate. Drive back to the airport for your flight home.

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