I’ve never been one to keep a journal, and in recent years I have realized that, regardless of how interesting it may be or not be to others, this blog is quite valuable to myself. While we are accustomed to thinking of wealth in terms of money and property and material, I think that true … Continue reading A Frigid Spanking – Attempting a Winter Solo Ascent of Cerro Torre
Tag: Chalten
Chaltén 2022-2023: Pilar Goretta Solo, El Corazón Attempt, and Respect to Sean
01 GUILLAUMET 02 GORRA BLANCA 03 LOMA BLANCA 04 TORRE VOLONQUI 05 GORETTA PILLAR SOLO 06 CORAZÓN ATTEMPT 07 REFLECTIONS As I have done sometimes in the past, I am beginning to write this blog post while sitting on a bus from El Chaltén to El Calafate. After more than three months in El Chaltén, … Continue reading Chaltén 2022-2023: Pilar Goretta Solo, El Corazón Attempt, and Respect to Sean
Chalten 2017-2018 Photo Essay
On the Argentine side of the Patagonian Andes, the Chaltén Massif is a dense range of extremely steep mountains, famous for Cerro Torre and Chaltén itself (the native name for the peak also known as Fitz Roy). I have been coming to this mountain range on an annual basis since 2003, often for a three-month … Continue reading Chalten 2017-2018 Photo Essay
Patagonia 2016 – A Dud
[Editor's note: This was now written more than three weeks ago, on Dec. 31] I’m beginning to write this blog post on an airplane from El Calafate to Buenos Aires, on my way back to the northern hemisphere, after three weeks in the Chaltén Massif of Patagonia. I had planned for a big and hopefully … Continue reading Patagonia 2016 – A Dud
Chalten 2015-2016
Because this blog post is so long, I’ve divided it into chapters: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. CALIFORNIA ROUTE SOLO 3. SUPERCANALETA CAR-TO-CAR 4. CERRO SOLO, “EL DRAGON” 5. CERRO HUEMUL 6. TORRE EGGER AND PUNTA HERRON, SOLO 7. CERRO HUEMUL, “END OF FAITH” 8. TORRE TRAVERSE IN A DAY 9. WAVE EFFECT IN A DAY … Continue reading Chalten 2015-2016
Winter, followed by Fall, followed by Spring…
Here's a somewhat late blog post, of the remainder of my time in Patagonian winter, and the journey back to the Salish Sea. While it was very cool to finally explore the Chalten Massif in wintertime, it wasn't a highly successful trip for me in terms of climbing accomplishments. I made two attempts on technical, … Continue reading Winter, followed by Fall, followed by Spring…