Best Season | Shoulder Season | Low Season | Not Available
The Southern Ice Field is perhaps one of the less known areas on Earth; is it one of the explorers’ and dreamers’ constant objectives in their search for real and direct contact with wild nature.
So, we propose that we follow the steps of those brave explorers from the past years and we enter into an incredible world where ice and rock are the main protagonists.
Difficulty level: Demanding
On this day, you will arrive to El Chaltén and you will stay at your hotel.
In the evening, we will meet with our guide and the rest of the expedition staff. During this briefing, the guide will explain the technical characteristics of the program and he will introduce us to the magical Southern Ice Field. There will also be a revision of the personal equipment of each passenger and the common loads that each person will have to transport all along the itinerary, which includes the food provided by Fitz Roy Expediciones.
It is IMPORTANT that the arrival to El Chaltén on this day be early (during the morning) so as to have enough time in the evening in case it is necessary to rent or buy equipment.
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included
After we meet the guide at the hotel, private transportation will pick us up to take us to the bridge of the RÃo Eléctrico (15 km northeast from El Chaltén), which is going to be the departure point of our expedition.
We will start trekking to the base of the Glaciar Marconi. The first two hours of the trekking follow the RÃo Eléctrico upstream through a thick forest of Ñire and Lenga trees up to Piedra del Fraile Camp. Crossing the camp, we will enter into a vast glacier valley that will open in front of us to let us see the Cerros Treinta Aniversario, Marconi Norte and Marconi Sur.
From Piedra del Fraile we will walk along the southern edge of the Lago Eléctrico by its southern edge, and in less than two hours walking we will ford the RÃo Pollone. From here, we will be able to see the northeast face of the Monte Fitz Roy.
By walking one more hour we will arrive to the west margin of the Lago Eléctrico, where we will set up our tents in La Playita camp, which is only 30 minutes away from Glaciar Marconi.
Hiking time: 6:00 hrs
Distance:Â 10Â km
Elevation gain: 100 m (maximum elevation gain during the day)
Meals: Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp (sleeping tent in double occupancy)
We will wake up at first light to have breakfast, to pick up camp and to begin with the hiking day. A 30 minutes walk will lead us to the moraine of the Glaciar Marconi, where the land is unstable and the path disappears. Once we cross that stretch, we will get on the glacier to gradually ascend the 800 meters of elevation gain that separates us from Paso Marconi. From there we will have a panoramic view of the surrounding mountain range and of the immense continental ice cap field.
At the end of the day, we will set our camp at the foothills of Cerro Marconi Sur. The almost aerial position of the campsite will allow us to see the sunset and the sunrise on the walls of the Fitz Roy, the Super Canaleta, and the Pier Giorgio and Gorra Blanca mountains.
Depending on the ice conditions, crampons and cords will be used to overcome the cracks or compact ice steep hills. The Glaciar Marconi creates a funnel effect for the winds that come from the Southern Ice Field and the Pacific Ocean. At this point, expedition members can experience an added physical and mental challenge due to the gusts of wind and hail that can pick up in this area.
Hiking time: 8:00 hrs
Distance: 9 km
Elevation gain: 850 m (maximum elevation gain during the day)
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp (sleeping tent in double occupancy)
Early after breakfast, we will start walking. Our guide and assistant will carry the bulk of the general load (tents, food, gas, and others) in sleds.
During the day we will walk over the Southern Ice Field, which will be the magnificent setting of our journey. And we will be revel in the sights of the Volcán Lautaro (still active), the Mariano Moreno Mountain Range (almost as high and much more larger than the Fitz Roy), the Cuatro Glaciares pass and the Glaciar Chico. We will have to use snowshoes if necessary.
By evening, we will arrive to Circo de los Altares, at the foot of the legendary South Face of the Cerro Torre, where we will set up our camp.
Hiking time: 7:00 hrs
Distance: 13 km
Elevation gain: 0 m (maximum elevation gain during the day)
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp (sleeping tent in double occupancy)
During the morning, we will walk to Laguna de los EsquÃes over the lateral moraine of the Glaciar Viedma, which is going to be the place from which we are going to abandon the Southern Ice Field (formally Glaciar Viedma in this place).
If the weather and physical conditions allow it, we will continue to Paso Del Viento shelter where we will spend the night.
Hiking time: 8:00 hrs
Distance:Â 10Â km
Elevation gain: 100 m (maximum elevation gain during the day)
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp (sleeping tent in double occupancy)
After a great breakfast, we will start trekking to Paso del Viento, where we will take a rest to contemplate the magnificent landscape.
From there, we will descend the 800 meters elevation gain to the Laguna Túnel Superior through a glacier and altitude rocky ground. We will cross the Rio Túnel through a ford or a zip-line, depending on the conditions, and we will border the Laguna Toro. Very near from it, will we spend our last camping night at the Laguna Toro camp.
Hiking time: 6:00 hrs
Distance: 10 km
Elevation gain: 250 m (maximum elevation gain during the day)
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp (sleeping tent in double occupancy)
We will start walking with the RÃo Túnel to our right, following the path that will take us back to El Chaltén, and enjoying the last sights of the Torre and Fitz Roy mountains. End of the services.
Hiking time: 6:00 hrs
Distance: 16 km
Elevation gain: 250 m (maximum elevation gain during the day)
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch
Accommodation: Not included
This day will be used in case of adverse weather conditions that prevent us from progressing in the key steps of our journey. In any other case, we will use it to spend an extra day in Circo de los Altares, to rest or to camp again in any of the other spots of our program. This will be decided by the guide taking into account weather conditions and the physical condition of the passengers.
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp (sleeping tent in double occupancy)
INCLUDED
