Patagonia Backcountry Ski Touring week in El Chalten

Getting ready for the last run of the day with the Majestic view of Cerro Fitz Roy.

FITZ ROY AND CERRO TORRE MASSIFS

Length Trip
8 days

Ski Season
September – October and early November

Level
Expert

Style
Adventurer Backcountry ski touring/ Ski Mountaineering

DETAILS

El Chalten, Patagonia have been nominated as the Alpine Capital of Argentina, right at the foot of the Infamous Granite Massifs of Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

The surrounding mountains of the big Granite walls of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre are surrounded by spectacular backcountry ski objectives as Loma de Diablo or Mosquito, Cerro Vespignani, Cerro Creston and the jewell of Cerro Electrico and Cerro Madsen with incredible views of the Fitz Roy massif.

The approaches are a bit demanding and you will need to carry skis on your pack for at least an hour in most of the objectives.

El Chalten have been always an alpinism destination, in the last ten years since the booming of backcountry ski touring in Patagonia, it became a winter destination as well.

We recommend to give a window of resting days in between objectives, since most of them demands around long days and lots of Stamina.

How to get to El Chalten: https://www.andescross.com/patagonia-trip-notes/

ITINERARY

Day 1:
Arrival to El Chalten, Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre in Los Glaciers National Park

The best way to get to El Chalten is to fly to El Calafate (FTE), and take the bus Las Lengas (https://lengas.com/) directly to El Chalten.
We meet you there directly in your Hotel to check gear and details
Night in Hotel in El Chalten
Day 2:
Warm up day in Loma del Diablo, Mosquito Valley

This is one of the nicest valleys with relatively easy access. We drive around 30 minutes from the town of El Chalten, then hike for an hour with our skis and we have a good climb of 1200 meters to the top of Loma del Diablo. It is a big cirque with all orientations, a big face and some northeast couloirs. Also you can access other valleys to play around it.

Excellent views of Cerro Neumeyer, part of Gorra Blanca, the entire massif of Fitz
Roy and Cerro Torre.
Night in Hotel in El Chalten
Day 3:
Patagonian Jewell Cerro Vespignani

One of the best glaciated objectives 40 km north from El Chalten, at the border with Chile, at the foot of Lago del Desierto.

This trip has access via private land through a beautiful Lengas forest trail to Laguna los Huemules, a beautiful hike that leads you to an alpine lake. Takes 45 minutes from the parking lot. Once there, a little hike over the moraine to reach the snow and put skis on.

Then starts the Alpine terrain. The mountain is heavily glaciated with big crevasses and it is a big open bowl with constant 30-35 degrees. Nice day navigating and ascending gradually.

Demands a total of 1600 meters elevation gain.

The locals ski this mountain from June to December, holds snow until very late in the season.

Night in El Chalten

Day 4:
Easy morning and approach to Laguna de los 3

We take the morning easy, since legs will be tired from the past days.

Pack all our gear to camp near Fitz Roy massif, we try to reach the snow level or camp right before that.

Only approach day, camping and enjoy the magic views of Fitz Roy range with all their spires and glaciers. As Aguja de la S, Saint Exupery, Rafael, Poincenot, Fitz Roy, Val de Bois, Mermoz, Guillaumet, Glaciar de los tres and Glaciar Superior.

Night in tents.
Day 5:
Ski Cerro Madsen, Spectacular views of Fitz Roy

Early morning start and climb the beautiful south face of Cerro Madsen, there are several options with couloirs , faces. In general holds really good snow for long.

Also we have the possibility of skiing to Paso Superior, Paso inferior and Glaciar de los Tres with magic views of Cerro Fitz Roy and satellites.

Another jewell of this remote Patagonia Ski Trip. Pack our stuff and hike back to the town of El Chalten for a good meal and probably a bar night 🙂

Night in Hotel
Day 6:
Rest day

Probably by now , legs will be asking for mercy 🙂 and we will need a day off.

We can hang around town, go sport climbing or take it easy.

Night in Hotel
Day 7:
Cerro Electrico or Creston Park

A good last day of activity, our last push. Big long day from El Chalten to close our Patagonia Ski trip with a 1700 meters elevation gain to climb Cerro Electrico, a beautiful day, long, long . 3 hours approach with skis in our pack and then tour for another 3 hours to the top

Nice skiing with views of Glaciar Superior, Fitz roy massif, Paso Marconi, Patagonian Icefield, Gorra Blanca and more…

If the crew is a bit tired we can always do a smaller objective as Creston Park, that offers beautiful secondary ridges and false summits with excellent views

Night in El Chalten
Day 8:
Bus connection to El Calafate airport

With a smile, legs tired and heart full of a new adventure done.

Bus connection to El Calafate airport to connect flight to Buenos Aires, see some Tango or some Boca Junior football (futbol) match…

Thanks for reading all the way to here 🙂

GEAR LIST

Classic Multiday Ski Touring Gear List!
This gear list is designed for !

Haute Route in the Alps, Hut to Hut trips in Patagonia, Frey Hut Skiing or any Multiday

Mountain Ski Trip! !
Backpack 35-40 lts !
Sleeping bag ideal 600/700 grams of down fill!
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! !

For Ski Trips:

Helmet!
Telemark, Split board or ski touring skis and bindings!
Ski, Snowboard or Telemark boots!
Skins!
Telemark, Snowboard or ski touring boots!
Shovel, Beacon and probe!
Boot Crampons and ice axe!
Ski crampons mandatory specially in the spring!
Ski poles !
Harness !
2 Locking binners!

PHOTO GALLERY

USD 3.300 Private One client

USD 2.750 Private 2 clients

USD 2.550 Private 3 clients

USD 1.950 from 4 to 6 clients

IFMGA-UIAGM MOUNTAIN GUIDE

All transportation in El Chalten

All camping gear and meals in the mountains

Snacks and sandwiches for lunches

Not Includes:

Transportation to El Chalten town

Meals in Restaurants

Air tickets

Accommodation in El Chalten.. check here

On request

BOOK THIS TRIP

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ANDESCROSS
IS RECOMMENDED BY

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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