• Hiking across catedral ridge

MOUNTAIN SPRINT LIGHT AND FAST TREK
From Cerro Lopez to Laguna Negra

Length Trip
2 days

Season
December through May


Level
Advanced– Endurance hikers and trail runners


Style
Backpacking and trekking

DETAILS

Fast hikers and trail runners will love this option of exploring the diverse terrain of Northern Patagonia, Argentina with a mountain guide. We stay the night and eat dinner in the Manfredo Segre Mountain Hut, so there is no need to take heavy backcountry gear such as a tent or cooking supplies.

This guided trek through Argentina’s Nahuel Huapi National Park is an excellent trip for those hikers who have lots of endurance or only a couple of days to spend in the mountains of Patagonia.  Light and Fast style to cover lots of ground in two days. Alpine lakes, high meadows, basalt spires, lush forests, and excellent views of the amazing Cerro Tronador and the Chilean volcanoes Osorno, Puntiagudo and Lanin.

ITINERARY

Day 1: 
With an early morning start from Bariloche, Argentina, you and your mountain guide begin climbing to the summit of Cerro Lopez (2200m). The trailhead is in the Llao Llao area and after passing through a forest, we have open views of the surrounding Andes and the Lakes District of Patagonia.  Cerro Lopez sits on the corner of two arms of the Nahuel Huapi Lake beside the beautiful Cerro Capilla, and the mountain is characterized by amazing basalt spires, such as Aguja Lürs, a big open bowl that attracts backcountry skiers when it is filled with snow in the winter, and the exposure to the west of the untouched Nahuel Huapi National Park.

It is about 2 hours of hiking to Refugio Lopez, a little mountain hut, and another 2 hours to the summit.  With your mountain guide you will climb through little alpine meadows, along a little lake, on rocky domes, and along the ridge on compacted scree. In the spring, there are still little snow patches on the dome.

Views of the Andes from Cerro Lopez are amazing! From the summit, you will appreciate the incredible Mount Tronador (3354m ) and the Brazo Tristeza arm of the Nahuel Huapi Lake as well as some of the volcanoes of Chile: Volcano Osorno and Volcano Lanín.

Hike down the scree with your mountain guide towards west and Bailey Willis valley. Traverse across the valley to the top of Bailey Willis peak, and then down to Laguna Negra.  The last stretch of the day, we’ll have the Manfredo Segre Mountain Hut in sight at the other end of Laguna Negra at the base of Cerro Negro. You can practically taste their homemade pizza and microbrews on this last dash going around the lake. Nice, hot dinner and a celebratory beer or malbec, and then bedtime in the hut.

We can even bivy outside if the weather is good! Favorite part of the day is sleeping under the stars after a good hike!

Approx. 18 km with 1400 meters elevation change in 8-10 hours of hiking.
Day 2:
Today is much more relaxed. Breakfast in the Laguna Negra Hut and then we hike down into Goye’s Valley.  Switchbacks down from the mountain hut, and then we’ll hike along the nice, long valley beside a clean mountain stream.

We come back out to civilization in Colonia Suiza, a pretty little farming village founded by Swiss settlers in the early 1900s. Your mountain guide will drive you back to your lodging in Bariloche.

Approx. 14 km with 500 meters elevation change in 3 hours of hiking.
For this trek, we strongly recommend hiring a Professional IFMGA UIAGM or AAGM Mountain Guide.

GEAR LIST
  • Backpack 55 lts
  • Headlamp (Petzl Tikka plus, Black diamond or similar) and extra batteries
  • Waterbottle Nalgene or Camelbak
  • Trekking boots to hike comfortable in scree slopes, snowpatches and forest trail.
  • Crocs sandals (Optional)
  • 2 pairs of  sintethic socks (like Columbia or similar)
  • Hiking or trekking pants – Quick dry-(North face, Mammut or similar)
  • Capilene underwear
  • Polipropilene – capilene shirt
  • T shirt
  • Thin fleece
  • Thick fleece
  • Puffy or  down jacket, beautiful for cozy afternoons in the mountains
  • Lightweight Water proof Goretex jacket
  • Lightweight Water proof Goretex pants
  • Fleece gloves x 2
  • Warm hat
  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses with UV filter
  • Sun screen and lipstick
  • Hiking poles x 2 (Leki , Black Diamond, etc)
  • Gaiters
  • Pocket knife
  • Small Tupperware – pot for meals- or similar (if you have it, if not we will provide it)
  • Sleeping bag (800 grs of goosedown or equivalent)  and sleeping pad (Therm-a-rest)
  • Spoon
  • Ipod- Mp3 player (optional)

Summer/ Fall Trekking Trips and Multiday Backpacking trips
This gear list is designed for Backpacking for Several days in the Mountains being able to carry the minimum but logical to travel light and safe in the mountains of Patagonia

  • Backpack 35-45 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)
  • Hiking or Trekking boots good to deal with wet meadows and scree slopes
  • Gaiters
  • Quick dry pants with Schoeller material (North face, Mammut or similar)
  • Merino wool long underwear
  • Water proof Goretex pants
  • 2 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 hiking
  • Thick gloves (according to season)
  • Warm hat
  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses with UV filter
  • Sun screen and lipstick
  • Earplugs… very recommended (for Mt huts, windy days in tents)
  • Tooth brush and paste
  • Headlamp (Petzl Tikka plus, Black diamond or similar)
  • Waterbottle Nalgene or similar
  • Thermos 0.5 liters ideal for warm drinks
  • Crocs
  • Iphone/ Ipod music player/camara- optional
  • Hiking poles

Camping  Gear:

  • Mug to go
  • Spoon

PHOTO GALLERY

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Minimum 2 people.
2/3 people US$ 750.-
4 or more people US$ 550.-


Private transportation
AAGM or UIAGM Mountain Guide
All meals and lodging in the mountains.


On request

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70% RATE OF RETURNING CLIENTS FOR OVER 10 YEARS

The Andescross family comes back to Southamerica with us and also to Antarctica, Norway, Iceland and the Alps for more good times.

“Back in 2006 I decided I wanted to try backcountry skiing and soon after I ended up contacting Jorgito at Andescross, which was already a very respected guiding company in Argentina.”

The idea of climbing all the mountains and volcanos in patagonia in the winter time and skiing them on the way down sounded too good to be true. Our first trip with Andescross was to Frey Hut with a couple of my brothers. The skiing conditions were as bad as Patagonia can offer so we ended up 2 days stuck in the hut in the midle of a storm and one day skiing on pure ice… 

Marcos Q.Tigre, BA, Argentina

“About 10 years ago I contacted Jorge about doing a hut to hut ski trip in the mountains around Bariloche. I chose him because he was a fully certified International Mountain guide.”

This trip proved to be nothing short of fantastic. Jorge was professional, friendly, knowledgeable of the area we were traveling through and was a great travel partner. He took care of my travel arrangements in Bariloche, booked my room for me before and after the trip, and even picked me up at the airport. The next year, I returned for a volcano ski trip with Jorge. We were fortunate enough to ski from the summit of four volcanoes. In the last decade, I have traveled with him at least 8 times.  We have skied in Chile and Argentina numerous times, including a trip to the Patagonian Ice-fields.

Tomfriend more than client since 2005

“I have skied with Jorge and Andescross in the Andes and the Alps in Europe.   Simply put, the Andes Mountain range is Jorge’s backyard and he knows then well.”

In my view, I think it would be very difficult to find another South American based guide with comparable years of experience in the Andes, guiding credentials, and local knowledge.  Over the years, Jorge has gained significant knowledge of the Alps and many other mountain ranges in the world which he includes in his worldwide adventure trips.  He is able to quickly gauge conditions, make safe decisions, and find great untracked skiing.  

Peter Musziclient for first time in 2008

“Jorge se ha convertido con el tiempo en un amigo cercano más que en un guía.”

Hemos compartido muchas aventuras juntos en varias partes del mundo como los Alpes, Bariloche y Chalten, y siempre regresamos de cada viaje pensando en el próximo. Para que un viaje sea exitoso tiene que tener su cuota de riesgo y cautela, algo muy difícil de lograr pero que Jorge siempre ha sabido manejar. Seguramente les quemara la cabeza hablando de… Paciencia estimados clientes!!, nadie es perfecto.

Francisco J.San Isidro, BA, Argentina

“In just over a six year period, we have done five trips with Jorge and have committed to a sixth next year. We must like this guy! Jorge is THE guide for your Patagonia adventures…and beyond! ”

Our first trip with Jorge in 2010 was for backcountry skiing around Bariloche, Argentina. While we were temporarily weathered out of higher terrain due to high avalanche danger from tons of new snow, we never lacked for fun, challenging, and noteworthy alternatives. He shared with us his hometown stashes, something only a generous local guide could do. Jorge is a consummate mountain guide. He is completely client focused. He is a first rate professional. We trust his judgement, thrill in his ski adventures, and have been blessed to enjoy the beautiful outdoors around the world with him.

Larina & BobSeattle, WA, USA

“40 years ago I flew down to Argentina in my summer for downhill training in the Andes.
I was then racing on the World Cup circuit and so having 4 weeks on snow in summer was really useful training.”

I fell in love with Bariloche and returned the next year again. Sadly this was the last time I made to South America and then, when skiing in Iceland, I bumped into a friend of our guide, John Falkiner. We shared a few beers waiting for our airplane to fly home and John explained that his friend, Jorge, was a guide down in Argentina and that helped in Bariloche.

Konrad Bartelski A British Legend in Ski Racing in 1981

“Jorge and team helped with all the fairly complex planning and logistics for a supported backpacking trip across the Andes”

From Bariloche to Puerto Frias for our group of 10 people, and guided us safely along the route.  He and his guides were exceptionally competent, knowledgeable and professional, and everyone had a great time.  I would highly recommend Andescross!

Cheryl from The Mountaineers Hiking Club, Seattle WA

“I am currently travelling the world on a sabbatical, looking for amazing experiences. During a stop across south america, I wanted to rock climb in the Frey national park, near Bariloche.”

I found the Andescross team on the internet, and they teamed me up for 3 days with a world class guide instructor. I am a novice rock climber, and my guide Luciano not only provided me with amazing climbing coaching tips, but allowed me to push myself to go beyond my comfort zone, in all safety. And once the climbing was over (once summits were achieved and I could not feel my forearms anymore), it was time for some of the best hospitality I have found on the road this last year. Great dinners, food, friends and laughter to fill our evening, until the call of the rock would get us out of our sleeping bag the next morning.

Patrick , Ex-Google CFOSFO , USA

“Jorge has excellent personal skills and appreciation of my climbing abilities. ”

Brian climber from CanadaI had the pleasure of meeting Jorge in December 2008. My wife and I were in Bariloche, on holiday in Argentina. Jorge had been recommended to us by a climbing friend back home in Canada. I was able to contact him by phone and we worked out a rendez-vous at the Refugio Frey for a day’s climbing on the rock. His knowledge of the area and the realistic time needed to complete various options, made it easy for me to reach a decision. What followed was one of the best days in the mountains that I have experienced over a lifetime in the sport.

Brian, 65, IrishCanadian climbing legend of Squamish, Canada

“Had a FANTASTIC time and thank you so much for all your help and the great guides. Great meeting you!!!!”

We are in BA, but head to Brazil tomorow and am just going to eat, drink and sleep! Anytime you head to Europe, you always have a place to stay in London and hopefully we will be back SOON!”

SachaLondon, UK, January 08
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