The 2013-2014 season in El Chalten continues to be a cold and stormy one. Since my arrival in mid November there hasn't been a single weather window that I would call "a good one," and the gnarliest summits, Cerro Torre and Torre Egger, have both yet to see a single ascent this season. However, at … Continue reading Cerro Madsen, Aguja de l’S and Cerro Domo Blanco
Tag: Patagonia
Guillaumet x2
Sarah and I have been in El Chalten for a week now, and just got back to town from our second foray into the mountains. On the 20th, during a nice but very brief break in the weather, we tried to make a day-trip to Aguja Val Biois via Paso Superior. We started from El … Continue reading Guillaumet x2
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…
Domo Blanco and Cerro Electrico
I had a bit of climate shock a couple weeks ago, traveling from the Squamish summer of shirtless sport climbing, down to a snowy, icy El Chalten in mid-winter. I arrived in El Chalten on August 23, and supposedly proper winter had arrived only a few days beforehand. People around town talked of a "pequeno … Continue reading Domo Blanco and Cerro Electrico
Adela Traverse
I have been back home in Seattle for the past week, and while I often feel that life in Chalten is very busy, life in Seattle is busier yet. After missing all of the Northern Hemisphere winter I have been out skiing almost every day - the thing I miss most during extended stays in … Continue reading Adela Traverse
El Mocho
Last week there was yet another good weather window in the Chalten Massif. However, the window was unfortunately immediately proceeded by a torrential storm, and wet conditions thwarted many climber's attempts. Sarah and I hiked into the Torre Valley with our sights set on some lower summits, that fortunately accumulated less snow during the storm. … Continue reading El Mocho
Mojon Rojo – El Zorro
Sarah is back in El Chalten with me again, and after a few days of bouldering and sport climbing, we were back up in the mountains with yet more good weather. On Wednesday the 20th we hiked into the Torre Valley with our sights set on the enigmatic west face of Mojon Rojo. Mojon Rojo, … Continue reading Mojon Rojo – El Zorro
Red Pillar of Mermoz
With the clock ticking on Dylan's two-week Patagonia sojourn, we have continued to try to make use of every bit of decent weather. Last Wednesday we hiked into the Torre Valley and up to the Niponino bivouac, with plans to try something on the Torres on Thursday. When our 2am alarm went off the winds … Continue reading Red Pillar of Mermoz
La Via Funhogs
My good friend Dylan Johnson has managed to briefly escape his responsibilities as a new father and self-employed architect to come down to El Chalten for some alpine adventure. Since he is only here for a whopping two weeks, and since he arrived exactly at the end of the enormous, two-week weather window, he was … Continue reading La Via Funhogs
The Corkscrew
After Sarah and I had rested from Fitz Roy, we unfortunately squandered several more days of good weather. However, this weather window turned out to be longest I have ever seen here in El Chalten, and I had yet another chance to go climbing. Sarah headed to Bariloche to start an intensive Spanish language course, … Continue reading The Corkscrew