Destination: The Southern Patagonia Ice Cap, Argentina
Essence of the trip:
Embark on a new challenge and trek through the harsh wilderness of the Earth’s third largest glaciated area on an epic expedition that will see you explore and appreciate the scale of Southern Patagonia. Circle world famous mountains such as Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre and walk the entire length of Argentina’s biggest glacier, Viedma. With our trusted local guides we’ve created this new trip to challenge you and get you out into the wild and barren landscapes to accomplish one of the hardest treks in the southern hemisphere.
This trip will give you:
- The chance to trek one of the most unique routes in the world, where you’ll scale nearly 60 km of an ice field smaller only than the Antarctica and Greenland sheets and covering an epic total area of 13 000 square meters.
- The opportunity to push yourself to new limits as you brave the stormy showers and whistling winds of the world-renowned Marconi Pass.
- The unrivaled experience of camping on the ice itself, waking up to the sparkling expanse of an uncharted universe of ice and snow.
- Insight from our team of expert guides into how to survive and cope and in polar conditions like a true pioneer.
Details:
Arrive into the small town of El Chalten at the foot of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre where you will receive an invaluable briefing about the Ice Field and pick up your provided camping and technical gear. The following morning you will be transferred to the bridge over Electrico River, the starting point of the trek towards the base of Marconi Glacier. For two hours you will follow a well marked path before bidding farewell to civilization at the Piedra Del Fraile campsite. The great glacier valley awaits. Cross moraines and rocky formations left by the glaciers less than 70 years ago before coming to camp on the Western shore of Lake Electrico.
Your third day will see you ascending 800m on ice and snow as you use crampons and ropes to climb the Marconi Glacier and enter a kingdom of snow and ice. Push yourself to new limits as you brave the winds and snows of the Marconi Pass. The fantastic sunset later enjoyed at the most aerial campsite of the expedition will serve as a worthy reward.
Over the next two days sledge and trek to the Circo De Los Altares, taking in unbeatable and rarely seen views of the active Lautaro Volcano and Mariano Moreno Range. Your sixth day will see you enjoying a well earned rest at a campsite near the rustic Paso del Viento hut.
Feeling refreshed, embark on the final two days of trekking that will take you to the epic Viedma Glacier, the largest in Argentina. This challenging route offers several spectacular viewpoints including an aerial view of the glacier’s snout as it calves into Lake Viedma. Tackle the steep descent to the lake and Cabo de Homos Bay before you return to El Chalten – aching and weary but carrying a sense of achievement that few other feelings can beat.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts get in touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.