Patagonia Alpine Trilogy
Alpine climbing at Cerro Solo, Aguja de la S and Guillaumet
This is a real alpine climbing challenge in authentic Patagonian style. Only for hardcore experienced alpinists, we’ll warm up climbing Cerro Solo, where we’ll also review and refine climbing techniques; later we’ll move up to Laguna sucia, from where we’ll attempt a classic ice and rock climb at Aguja de la S. After several pitches of perfect granite splitters at “S”, our next goal will be Aguja Guillaumet, which we’ll attempt through the classic Fonrouge route (mostly rock) or by the Amy Couloir (mostly ice), depending on conditions.
Start training right now and get ready for the real thing on one of the wildest spots for alpine climbing on earth!
Patagonia Alpine Trilogy Trip Details
- Skill level: Advanced. Very long days with strenuous approaches, sustained alpine climbing up to 5.9, and long descents on tough weather conditions.
- Location: Los Glaciares N.P, Patagonia Argentina
- Length: 16 days
- Climber/guide ratio:1:1 - 2:1
- Capacity: 6
- Prerequisites: Excellent physical shape required. Experience on using crampons is recommended.
- Cost: 1:1 US$ 4,700 - 2:1 US$ 3500
- Departure dates: on request from November through March.
Included
- Certified Mountain Guides (English-Spanish)
- 4 Hotel nights at Chalten
- All food when trekking/climbing
- Restaurant dinners (drinks not included)
- Personal climbing gear (harness, helmet, climbing shoes, crampons, ice axe, belay device, carabiners)
- All camping and cooking gear
- Private ground transportation during the trip
- Group technical gear (ropes, climbing gear, snow shovel, maps, G.P.S, compass, etc)
- Satellite phone service
- 24/7 assistance in the US before and during the program.
- AMG Cap and T-shirt
Not included
Patagonia Alpine Trilogy Trip Itinerary
| Day 1 |
Buenos Aires-El Calafate. We’ll be waiting for you in the airport, and then we’ll take a 4 ½-hour private bus drive to El Chaltén. This day we’ll travel towards the mountains passing by big turquoise glacier lakes like Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma. Hotel Check and dinner. |
| Day 2 |
D’Agostini camp. Wake up in the youngest town in Argentina (1985) an start moving after a good breakfast; 2 ½ hours hike to D’Agostini Camp, at Cerro Torre base. A lot of climbing history is around! World-class climbers have attempted these mountains from 1930.
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| Day 3 |
Glaciar Torre. Take off from 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 ice school on the best ice playground in the world is definitely an add-on! |
| Day 4 |
Cerro Solo Camp. Break down camp, food for two days, travel light; we move camp to foot of Cerro Solo. After a Tyrolean crossing (zip line with pulley over the river) of Fitz Roy river, we mainly hike/scramble on rock terrain. We may find some short roping sections where use of hands is welcome. Already spectacular views. Pitch camp at foot of Cerro Solo lower glacier. |
| Day 5 |
Cerro Solo. . Summit day. On a 30/35 degree mixed, scree and snow terrain, we get to a glacier bottleneck, where the upper glacier joins the lower glacier. A short section of 45 degrees with a very nice bergschrund to go over! Then one more push to the 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 Mariano Moreno range. Back to High Camp.
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| Day 6 |
El Chalten. Back to town, to enjoy a good dinner and our Hotel comfort. |
| Day 7 |
El Chalten. Rest day. Dinner and Hotel. |
| Day 8 |
Laguna Sucia camp. This day we’ll wake up early and hike all the way to our camp at a big cave above Laguna Sucia. We’ll walk following the traditional trail to Poincenot camp and later we’ll start negotiating a rougher terrain with some loose rock and a few scrambling moves to finally reach the cave at the feet of our objective. Relax and get ready…
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| Day 9 |
Aguja de la S. Early in the morning we’ll begin scrambling up until reaching the glacier where we’ll rope up. Fro here we’ll travel avoiding a few crevasses reaching the bergschrund. From here is the real deal, about 5 pitches of steep ice and snow, followed by several perfect granite climbing to the summit. The view is incredible. After the technical descent, we’ll get back to the cave to spend the night. |
| Day 10 |
El Chalten. Rest day. Dinner and Hotel. |
| Day 11 |
Piedra Negra Camp. We’ll start driving early to the Rio electrico bridge where we’ll start hiking towards Piedra del Fraile first and then we’ll hit the steeper trail in the area, to reach our bivy site. Good dinner, early bed and focus on the next peak.
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| Day 12 |
Aguja Guillaumet. Depending on personal preferences and conditions, we’ll chose between two classics: a mostly rock climbing route on the northwest face or a classic ice and snow couloir on the Amy Route. Both routes are fantastic, and we’ll be the perfect finale for this alpine trip. |
| Day 13 |
El Chalten. Break down camp and head down to Piedra del Fraile. After a brief stop, we keep going for two more hours through Lenga and Ñires forest reaching Rio Electrico bridge, from where we’ll drive to El Chalten; hotel, hot showers (again!) and a succulent dinner just ahead. |
| Day 14 |
Extra day. We’ll use this day in case of bad weather or any other unpredicted reason.
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| Day 15 |
El Calafate. Drive back to the airport for your flight home. |
Restaurant meals included: day 1, day 6, day 10 and day 13.
Hotel includes breakfast.
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