This course is designed for 6, 8, 12 & 13-day mountaineering course graduates. After skills review segments, we attempt up to four of the highest glaciated peaks, including Cerro Tronador. Standing over 11,000' above tidewater, Cerro Tronador, the tallest peak in Northern Patagonia, offers numerous potential routes in a very esthetic setting. Our goal for all climbs on this trip is to provide advanced skills practice such as route selection, route-finding, and leading, while we enjoy climbing in the first blush of Patagonian summer. Team size is small and moves at an advanced pace completing a series of climbs in a relatively short period of time. In fact, this is one of Willi's favorite courses, as it poses challenges to the team that often result in the most exciting climbs of the season.
Course Objectives
Complete a series of climbs designed to improve and increase existing mountaineering skills and knowledge.
To further develop experienced climbers and facilitate increasing the experienced climber's existing technical skills.
Climbing Techniques
Lead climbing
Protection placement
Route finding
Rope and belay techniques
Crevasse rescue review
Wilderness navigation
Cerro Tronador (3,491m /11,224ft) the highest mountain in Northern Patagonia, stands less than 30 kilometers from tidewater in the region where glacier carved fjords begin to deeply incise the west coast of Chile. Numerous active glaciers and large impressive icefalls cascade down its steep, multiple high summits. This forms many challenging climbing routes as well as excellent training terrain.
Volcán Osorno (2,652m /8,701ft) is a beautiful, classically-shaped volcano draped in glacier ice. It rises from the shores of beautiful blue Lago Llanquehue as an abrupt western outlier of the range and offers esthetic but moderate climbing and training.
Volcán Calbuco (2,000m /6,571-ft) is an ice-capped volcano standing close behind the regional capital city of Puerto Montt. This summit is an outstanding viewpoint of both the higher peaks nearby and the western lowlands and salt water bays and fjords. It is a perfect introduction to snow climbing in the region and lends itself well to learning and practicing steep technique in a less threatening environment.
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