PATAGONIA´S MOUNT TRONADOR CLASSIC MOUNTAINEERING ASCENT
Length Trip
3 days
Season
September to April
Level
Intermediate- comfortable on glacier terrain
Style
Classic Mountaineering- glacier travel involved
Mount Tronador is the emblematic peak of the Patagonian Lakes District, and at 3554 meters, the highest peak in Argentina’s Nahuel Huapi National Park. Mount Tronador is a glaciated dormant volcano and stands high above the surrounding Andes of Northern Patagonia. Andean Condors, the world’s largest birds of flight, come to Mount Tronador to play in the wind and teach their young how to soar in the different wind patterns around the mountain. Mountaineers often have the impressive experience of seeing the shadow of a 4 meter, 12 foot, wingspan on the glacier as a curious condor flies over!
Ascending Cerro Tronador with a Mountain Guide requires steady trekking over the glaciers and a bit of simple ice climbing at the very top. This is an ideal trip to be done with ski touring gear September through December or and hiking/climbing during the summer, December- April.
For this mountaineering trip, we strongly recommend hiring a Professional IFMGA UIAGM or AAGM Mountain Guide.
Day 1:
Your Mountain Guide will pick you up at your lodging in Bariloche early in the morning and drive 80 km to Pampa Linda, a little settlement in the middle of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Pampa Linda lies in the wide valley at the foot of Mount Tronador.
Gear-up with your mountain guide and hike through a forest of coihue trees, Nothofagus, and bamboo on a nice hiking trail. The last stretch to the mountain hut Refugio Otto Meiling is above tree line with excellent views of the Patagonian Lakes District and surrounding Andes Mountains. If we have ski gear, we can skin up from here, or later in the season we hike on a well-compacted scree and rock trail.
Once we reach the Otto Meiling Hut (2.000m), we can put down our packs, relax by the fire, and have a hot homemade Patagonian dinner. Go to sleep listening to seracs falling from the hanging glaciers thousands of meters to the bottoms of the cliffs. This sound is why Mount Tronador has its name, “The Thunderer”.
Night in the Otto Meiling Mountain Hut.
Approx. 10 km with 900 meters elevation gain in 4-5 hours of hiking.
Day 2:
Alpine start before dawn: breakfast, headlamp on, and your mountain guide will get you geared up for the glacier with rope, harness, crampons/skis, etc. Your mountain guide will lead you across the glaciers to Pico Argentino. It takes 5-7 hours to climb to the summit of the Argentine Peak.
The route is a solid, long progression over glacier terrain, with a moderate angle of steepness. The last 300 meters below the summit are steeper (40 degrees) on snow and ice. Your mountain guide will set up an anchor for the last 100 meters of simple ice climbing. After summiting Pico Argentino, ski or hike back down across the glacier terrain to Otto Meiling Refugio. Have a well-deserved hot meal and maybe a celebratory bottle of Argentine Malbec.
Night in Otto Meiling Mountain Hut.
Approx. 8 km with 1200 meters altitude gain in 5-7 hours of climbing.
Day 3:
Descend to Pampa Linda and enjoy the scenic drive on a one way road through the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Return to Bariloche and your mountain guide will drop you off at your local lodging.
Approx. 10 km with 900 meters elevation gain in 3-4 hours of hiking.
*This trip can also be done in two days, depending on the weather and fitness level of the participants. On Day 2, after summiting Tronador, hike all the way down to Pampa Linda and your mountain guide will drive you back to Bariloche late.
This gear list is designed for Climbing Mountains in Summer time with glaciated terrain in the Alps or Patagonia, as Mont Blanc, Monte Tronador, Volcan Lanin
- Backpack 40-45 liters if you need sleeping bag bring the bigger
- Sleeping bag ideal 600/700 grams of down fill
- Sleeping pad as Therm-a-rest or similar
- 2 pairs of sintethic socks (like Columbia or similar)
- Quick dry pants with Schoeller material (North face, Mammut or similar)
- Merino wool long underwear
- Water proof Goretex pants
- T shirt- Capilene or Merino wool ideal
- Thin fleece, like Patagonia R1 or similar with a hood ideal
- Mid fleece layer or synthetic Jacket with some insulation
- Down jacket or warm puffy
- Water proof Goretex jacket
- Thin Fleece gloves for skinning or waiting in belays
- Thick ski gloves
- Warm hat
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses with UV filter + Goggles
- Sun screen and lipstick
- Iphone/ Ipod music player- optional
- Earplugs… very recommended (for Mt huts, windy days in tents)
- Tooth brush and paste
- Headlamp (Petzl Tikka plus, Black diamond or similar)
- Pocket knife
- Waterbottle Nalgene or similar
- Thermos 0.5 liters ideal for warm drinks
- Crocs
Technical Gear:
- Helmet
- Mountaineering boots as Scarpa Phantom Guide, Sportiva Trango or Trango Evo- Crampon compatible
- Gaiters
- Boot Crampons and ice axe (Most of cases we provide them, so just ask us)
- Hiking poles
- Harness and 2 Locking binners (Most of cases we provide them, so just ask us)
PHOTO GALLERY
Guide Ratio 1:2 – is a technical climb at the end of the ascent
FULL TRIP TRONADOR
BARILOCHE – OTTO MEILLING- ARGENTINIEN PEAK OF TRONADOR- BRC
US$ 1150.- /1 person
US$ 695.-/ per person if you are 2 or 4 people- Guide ratio 1:2
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SHORT AND CHEAP:
Meeting UIAGM-IFMGA Mountain guide in Otto Meillig Hut (1900 meters), means hiking on your own to the hut and meet guide for only the Alpine day TECHNICAL GLACIER GUIDING above the Hut to summit Pico Argentino
ONE ALPINE DAY
US$ 795.- /1 person
US$ 450.-/ 2 or 4 people
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WINTER /SPRING TRIP TRONADOR (September-October-November)
BARILOCHE – OTTO MEILLING- ARGENTINIEN PEAK OF TRONADOR- BRC
US$ 1250.- /1 person
US$ 750-/ per person if you are 2 or 4 people- Guide ratio 1:2
UIAGM-IFMGA Mountain Guide
Private Transportation
2- 3 days guiding with side training on the glacier previous to ascent
Optional 3rd day weather
All technical gear for the ascent
All costs in Otto Meilling hut should be covered by clients (client and guide/ guide has 20% discount)
(expect full board for usd 60/70 a day including dinner, breakfast, lodging)
On request
ANDESCROSS
IS RECOMMENDED BY