An introduction to the vertical world. Different places around El Chalten are visited to practice the basic techniques, safety and movement on the rock. It is a first contact with the climbing gear and a variety of climbing situations; the instructor teaches the best way to overcome them.

Casa de Guías wants to show you the vertical world. Monitored by expert climbers, certified instructors and AAGM (Association Argentina de Guías de Montaña) Mountain Guides. 4 hs rock climbing in El Chaltén. There are different climbing sectors just in the village with a nice variety of routes. You will be introduced to know the basics of rock climbing technique in top rope style. Climbing is a unique sport, your whole body is going be engaged and your mind will experience the thrill of going up! Learn how to move on the vertical! All the necessary gear - harness, climbing shoes and helmet – is provided. Max - ratio: 1: 4.

THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE INCLUDED:

All climbing gear: ropes, karabiners, safety equipment, climbing shoes, harness, Helmet. VHF radio communication. First Aid Kit. Insurance.

NOT INCLUDED:

Food and lodging in El Chaltén. Personal equipment (check equipment list). Transfer in / out El Chaltén. All services not specifically indicated above.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT:

Comfortable pants, polar fleece, windproof anorak, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, water bottle, gloves.

NOTE:

The Casa de Guías Staff and Mountain Guides will assess you on any matters, doubts and questions, as well hotel booking/buses/meals organization issues. Casa de Guías would like to emphasize that a good mountain spirit is essential for a successful and learning experience. Please remember that to fully enjoy this unique place you should be in good physical shape.
You should properly be aware that mountain climbing is a very tough outdoors activity and inherently dangerous, being the weather in this region legendary famous for its wild character. 
Our Mountain Guides are fully experienced in the area so expedition members will have to accept all decisions regarding weather, safety, member/participant’s lack of ability and itinerary modifications of any degree.

DESCRIPTION:
The Patagonian Ice Fields are authentic relicts of all the glacial magnificence of the quaternary Ice Age. When the first explorers sighted the great glaciers that are born in this area, like Moreno, Upsala or Viedma, probably didn’t imagine that this frozen masses where coming from a huge expanse of ice and snow that is only comparable in size to Antarctica or Greenland, being the third largest single ice mass of the world and the closest to the equator. The continental divide here (divortium glaciarium) was first reached in 1917 by German expeditioners and still, although time has passed, the Southern Ice Field represents a fascinating adventure ground for all the teams that leave from El Chaltén every year to challenge the fierce winds of these latitudes, true sentinels of this paradise. Casa de Guias offers a unique experience on one of the least explored mountain landscapes in the world: the Patagonian Southern Ice field. The expedition covers all kind of amazing sceneries, from beautiful beech forests, superb granite towers, glaciers and the immensity of the third largest single ice mass of the earth. The legendary stormy weather of these icy plains can be extremely rough so our participants should be well prepared both physically and mentally; while you don’t need to be a climber although some technical experience is always good. We allow some extra days (two) to wait for favorable weather conditions to climb to Paso Marconi on the first stage of the expedition. You can sign up on our regular expeditions from October to March. Casa de Guias also organizes tailor made expeditions. CHECK FOR CERRO GORRA BLANCA CLIMB ON MOUNTANEERING. We invite you to enjoy and share with us all the charm, grandeur and the superlative beauty of the mountains and glaciers of this unique place.

ITINERARY:
DAY 0 ARRIVAL TO EL CHALTEN AND PREPARATION
Group meeting and gear check. The guide and assistant will be introduced; they will give an itinerary review and a general briefing of the expedition. Also, you will have the opportunity to clear all remaining questions and doubts.

DAY 1 EL CHALTEN TO LAGO ELECTRICO
Bus transfer to Rio Electrico. Here we start walking for 2 hours to reach the Piedra del Fraile base camp. The trail is mostly flat and protected by the forest. After this point there will pass five days to see the beech trees again!  Another 3 hours hiking along the moraines bordering Lake Electrico and fording Rio Pollone we will arrive to the “La Playita” (Camp I) on the western side of the lake. This day give us a chance to see the northern side of Mount Fitz Roy.
ESTIMATED TIME: 6 hs.
APROX. ELEVATION GAIN: 150 Mts.

DAY 2 ASCENT TO PASO MARCONI
After an early breakfast we prepare for the “D – day” of the trip.  As soon as leaving Camp I we pass over the already familiar glacier polished rock and moraine until we step on the Marconi glacier, which we will ascend to reach the entrance of the Ice Field (1550 mts). The final part of the ascent is steep and we must avoid or pass over crevasses, where we will put in use our equipment for glacier travel (we will have to rope up and put on crampons).
We set up Camp II on Paso Marconi. Now it’s time to relax and enjoy a magnificent view of Fitz Roy and some of the surrounding mountains such as Gorra Blanca, Pier Giorgio, and Volcan Lautaro. A vast white landscape and snowcapped mountains will be all around us. If weather conditions are too bad the guide might choose to spend the night at Refugio Gorra Blanca on the northern side of the pass.
ESTIMATED TIME: up to 10 hs depending on glacier and weather conditions.
APROX. ELEVATION GAIN: 900 mts.

DAY 3 PASO MARCONI TO CIRCO DE LOS ALTARES
From here we begin to go south towards a glacial cirque called “Circo de los Altares” where we set up Camp III. If the climb to Marconi Pass is the hardest day, today will be highlight of our expedition: we will put on snow shoes and walk on a relatively flat glacier enjoying an incredible view of the immense mountains of the Ice Field to finally reach one of the most spectacular places on earth. Circo de los Altares is a wonderful array of hanging glaciers and granite towers surrounding our camp on the west side of Cerro Torre. This difficult face of the mountain was first climbed by the renowned Italian climbers from the Dolomites, the “Lecco Spiders”.
ESTIMATED TIME: 6 hours
ELEVATION DROP:  200 mts.

DAY 4 CIRCO DE LOS ALTARES TO REFUGIO PASO DEL VIENTO
Today we’ ll continue south on the upper section of the Viedma glacier skipping more or less crevasses depending on the time of the season, then exit the Ice Field across the lateral moraines of the massive glaciers coming down from the Adela Range. We will pass by the “Laguna de los Esquies” bivouac to reach the Ferrari bivouac  (1100 mts) where we set up Camp IV. In case of bad weather condition we’ll continue to Refugio Paso del Viento, a mountain refuge. Endless moraines show how the glaciers have been sculpting these mountains for thousands of years.
ESTIMATED TIME: 7 hours
ELEVATION DROP: 250 mts.  

DAY 5  ASCENT TO PASO DEL VIENTO TO LAGUNA TORO
In about 2/3 hs we’ll climb to Paso del Viento (the windy pass, 1500 mts.) overlooking the gigantic Viedma Glacier (the biggest of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares) to finally leave behind the Ice Field and the Mariano Moreno Range on the west. We descend towards the Rio Tunel valley crossing in our way the lower section of the Tunel Glacier. An hour before Camp V we’ll have to wade Rio Tunel; if the river is too high we’ll have to go across a so called Tyrolean rope.  Our last camp is located in a beech forest on the eastern side of Lake Toro (650 mts).
ESTIMATED: 7 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 400 mts.  Drop: 850mts.

DAY 6 LAGUNA TORO TO EL CHALTEN
From Camp V at Lake Toro we go down valley, later to hike up and over the Pliegue Tumbado through burnt forests, marsh areas and down through a lush beech forest arriving at the park ranger station where the expedition comes to its end. After 80 kilometers of intense trekking we return to the comforts of El Chaltén.
ESTIMATED TIME: 6 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 350 mts. Drop: 550 mts.

DAYS 7/8
These days are reserved in case of delay due to bad weather or rest days.

THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE INCLUDED:  
All meals during the expedition since we leave El Chaltén until our return. Certified mountain guides (Argentine Mountain Guides Association, and National Park Administration). Group first aid kit. Technical and safety equipment (rope, harness, crampons, snow shoes, rescue kit, shovel, etc.). Cookware, stove, tent. GPS (Global Positioning System). VHF radio communication. Insurance. Assistant and porter (depending on the amount of members). Transfer to Rio Electrico.

NOT INCLUDED:
Food and lodging in El Chaltén. Personal equipment (check equipment list). Transfer in / out El Chaltén. Extra porters. All services not specifically indicated above.

NOTE:
As there are strict Park’s regulations you will be requested to bring with you from the Ice Field all feces in a specially designed tube. Please remember that to fully enjoy this unique place you should be in good physical shape.
The Casa de Guias Staff and Mountain Guides will assess you on any matters, doubts and questions, as well hotel booking/buses/meals organization issues prior and after the expedition. Casa de Guias would like to emphasize that a good mountain spirit and collaboration of all expedition members is essential for a successful and learning experience. You should also know that there is a common share of load that you will have to carry. Besides the weather (expect cold temperatures, snowfall and high speed winds), you should be prepared to carry up to 20/25 kgs on your backpack and be able to walk on very uncomfortable ground i.e. glacier moraines, screes,  glacial ice and snow. It is also expected your collaboration when setting/breaking camp and cooking. Extra porters are available at your expense.
Our Mountain Guides are fully experienced in the area so expedition members will have to accept all decisions regarding weather, safety, member’s lack of ability and itinerary modifications of any degree.

EQUIPMENT LIST:
70 lts backpack. Sleeping bag (- 15°C). Mattress, thermarest (inflatable) recommended. Sturdy leather mountain boots ( ie. La Sportiva Nepal Top) or double plastic boots). Synthetic fiber underwear, both long johns and shirt
Lightweight polar fleece pants. Cotton shirt. Lightweight polar fleece. Thick polar fleece. Gore tex jacket (with hood) or similar. Waterproof pants with lateral zippers (preferably Gore-Tex). Gaiters o mitones de lana (one pair). Waterproof mittens
Thick wool or synthetic socks (2 pairs). Thin liners (2 pairs). Hiking poles. Balaclava. Wool hat. Sunglasses and goggles (spare sunglasses – any-). Sunscreen. Water bottle or thermo. Tape and moleskin for blisters. Hygiene ítems to the minimum. Pocket knife. Headlamp and extra batteries. Comfortable sneakers.