PATAGONIA BACKCOUNTRY SKI TOURING WEEK IN EL CHALTEN
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
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/
Operated by a partner Official Prestador de Servicios de Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Operado por Socio Prestador Oficial de Servicios del Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Contact us for any questions info@andescross.com
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 🙂
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
Operated by a partner Official Prestador de Servicios de Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Operado por Socio Prestador Oficial de Servicios del Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Contact us for any questions info@andescross.com
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
ANDESCROSS
IS RECOMMENDED BY