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A very demanding, unforgettable expedition on the Patagonian Icefield, third glacier area in the World after Antarctica and Greenland. We enter the Icefield through Paso Marconi and walk southbound towards the legendary Cerro Torre west face, the “Circo de los Altares”. We exit the Icefield through Paso del Viento and get back into Chaltén along the river Tunel valley.
We see during this trek the Vulcano Lautaro (the “hidden volcano”, according to the british explorer Eric Shipton), the Mariano Moreno range and many more mountains.
The trek includes 4 nights camping expedition style on the ice. You do not need to have previous experience in the use of snowshoes or crampons.
It is necessary, however, a very good physical condition to be able to enjoy the adventure and get the most of your trek.
The Itinerary
DAY 1: El Calafate
We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check in at your hostel. By 7 pm the group meets in the lobby of the Hostel del Glaciar Pioneros, street Pioneros 251, El Calafate, to meet your guide, discuss details of your program and enjoy your welcome dinner together with your fellow trekkers.
Lodging in a Hostel room with private bathroom.
Meals: Dinner.
DAY 2: El Calafate - Perito Moreno glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Icefield. Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints. The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front 60 mts high seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier across the steppe.
Lodging in a Hostel room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast.
DAY 3: El Calafate - El Chaltén
Alter breakfast we take our bus for the 220 km drive to El Chaltén, a small and picturesque village at the foot of Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre massif. We make a stop half way to enjoy local pastries and hot coffee. On approach, the views of both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre massifs and of glacier Viedma and the mountains of the Icefield are spectacular.
In the afternoon, we meet the Expedition guide. He gives us a short speech about the Icefield and details of the program. We provide technical equipment and the guide and assistant will explain how to use it. Finally we prepare our packs for the next day.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner.
DAY 4: Foot of Marconi glacier
Today we start our trek, driving north and then west for 15 km. Once in River Electrico, we hike up valley, leaving behind after a couple of hours the forest which is replaced by rocks eroded and polished by the surpass of the glacier a fey hundred of years ago. We go around lake Electrico, get good views on Fitz Roy north face and we camp at the foot of Marconi glacier. 5 hours trekking, to gain 300 mts.
Lodging in Expedition Camp
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
DAY 5: Paso Marconi
This is a key day, as it is demanding and we depend on the weather conditions. We hike up glacier Marconi up to the Paso (Pass) Marconi (1500 mts above sea level). According to conditions, in some moment of this day we will use our crampons first and our snowshoes later. Hiking up valley, we will first meet the Pier Giorgio glacier valley flowing into the Marconi glacier valley, and then an evident change of steepness lead us to the pass itself. From Paso Marconi, an incredible view of the Paso de los Cinco Glaciares (the Five Glaciers Pass), Vulcano Lautaro, Cerro Gorra Blanca and an Antarctic type landscape. 6 – 7 hours trekking. We climb 800 mts approximately.
Lodging in Expedition Camp
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
DAY 6: Circo de los Altares
We hike on the icefield southbound towards the Circo de los Altares and the legendary Cerro Torre west face. We walk west of the Marconi range with its typical snow mushrooms topping the summit, with permanent view to the Mariano Moreno range towards west. Very likely we use our snowshoes today. 6 hs trekking, no up hill today.
Lodging in Expedition Camp
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
DAY 7: Circo de los Altares
We use this day, weather depending, to visit with only a day pack the Circo de los Altares, to get close-up views of the west faces of Cerro Torre group. These ice covered walls are probably one of the most serious alpine challenges in Patagonia.
Lodging in Expedition Camp
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
DAY 8: Laguna de los Esquíes
We continue south towards Laguna de los Esquíes, which is the exit door to the Ice cap. It is located on a lateral moraine of glacier Viedma. If weather is specially awfull, we have the chance of continue 1 and a half more hour to the Paso del Viento hut for protection. Trekking time 7 hs, no up hill.
Lodging in Expedition Camp
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
DAYS 9: Laguna Toro
From our camp we climb up to Paso del Viento (Wind Pass) at 1550 mts and give a final and spectacular look to the Icefield, the Mariano Moreno range and glacier Viedma. We hike down into the upper river Tunel valley, across scree and alpine meadows rich in alpine flowers. These flowers are the real welcome after days of only rock and ice. We cross the glacier Tunel and after crossing river Tunel across a tyrolean (horizontal fixed rope attached to both sides of the river) we get to our camp at Laguna Toro.
Lodging in Expedition Camp
Meals : Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
DAYS 10: El Chaltén
This day features the end of our traverse, we walk on the river Tunel valley, wading a couple of streams. We climb up and down Pliegue Tumbado, gentle slope to spend our last energies, and our final downhill inside the forest lead us to the River de las Vueltas valley and to El Chaltén. From the watershed between the 2 valleys we have still spectacular views of Cerro Fitz Roy, Torre, Grande, Huemul and Paso del Viento. 6 hs trekking.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
DAYS 11-12: Spare days
Spare days to use in case of bad weather conditions.
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
DAY 13:
Alter breakfast we transfer to El Calafate airport for the return flight to Buenos Aires or continuation of your journey.
Meals: Breakfast.
Maps of Patagonia
| Patagonia | Ice Cap & Itinerary | El Chalten area |
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General Information
Weather is unpredictable in Patagonia. One day can be warm and sunny whereas the following days can be
pretty miserable. An open attitude towards outdoor activities is required.
Beware! If meteorological conditions are particularly awful, the ascension may not be possible.
We will then trek around the Fitz Roy and no compensation will be paid back.
Rated: Strenuous/Extreme. To take the best out of this tour you should be in good physical
condition. We grade this trek as very demanding. It is not necessary to have former experience in
the use of crampons or snowshoes, but is advisable that you have at least once walked on snow or ice.
The group walks an average of 6 to 7 hs a day, some days may be more, at a moderate and steady pace
with the necessary stops. The trek includes some long and steady climbs, up to 800 mts in key days,
some of them steep enough to be demanding. Outdoors and camping experience Unfit people will be
brought back to El Chalten without compensation.
We will carry all the general equipment for the Expedition, (tents, food, gas, ropes, sleds, snow shovels, first aid kit).
Arrival in Buenos Aires.
If you land in Buenos Aires in the morning, as most airlines do, you can catch the flight
to Patagonia the same day. You will just need to take a taxi from Ezeiza International Airport to
Aeroparque, the domestic flight airport, or ask us to arrange a transfer.
If you need to spend one night in Buenos Aires, hotel reservation as well as transfers between the airport
and the downtown area are available. Ask for information
At less than 4-5 months before departure, domestic flights are almost impossible to find at the best price.
Fixed Departure dates
Every two weeks from October 28, 2006 to March 17, 2007 with a minimum of 3 passengers
Private departure:
Any day between end of October and mid March
(*) Price last updated on 24 October 2006. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please
always check by sending us a quotation request .
Tour Tariff
Fixed Departure
Private Departure
N° of participants
1
2
3
4
USD
$ 1700
$ 3060
$ 2550
$ 2218
EUR
€ 1410
€ 2539
€ 2116
€ 1841
GBP
£ 952
£ 1713
£ 1428
£ 1242
(**) 3 participants minimum for the fixed departures.
Equipment Supplied: Top quality equipment including 2 person tents,
light, cooking equipment & ustensils, first aid kit, climbing equipment
(crampons, snowshoes, ice peaks, ropes...), professionnal mountain guides fully licensed by
the National Park Autorithies and the Mountain Guides Association of Argentina.
Included:
Mountain guide (Spanish – English).
12 nights lodging as in the itinerary.
Tents.
Camping and cooking equipment.
Crampons, snowshoes, harnesses to complete your personal equipment.
Perito Moreno glacier excursion.
All transfers El Calafate airport – El Calafate – El Chaltén – El Calafate airport.
We combine private and regular buses for our transfers
12 breakfasts, 9 box lunch and 11 dinners
Not included:
National Parks fees
Medical and life insurance
Drinks
Tips
Air tickets and airport taxes
Services not detailed in the program
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