Patagonia trekking
There are 35 trekking combinations in the book, detailed below, plus information on trekking peaks that mostly require climbing experience.
For each trek, the book has gradings, start/end points, full route information, topical notes, distances, height gained, appropriate campsites and what terrain you can expect.
Disclaimer - Mountains are dangerous places. Take responsibility for your own actions and ensure you have the necessary skills to keep safe. Although none of the treks require advanced climbing skills, some of these treks require experience and a level of comfort with heights and exposure and, depending on the season, the necessary skills with ice axe and crampons. You are completely responsible for your own safety and should seek expert tuition if in doubt of your own abilities. Grading rationalisation is shown at foot of the page.
Trek summary
|
Grade |
Trek |
Min. no. of days (recommended) |
Guide recommended |
Summary |
| 1A | Laguna Torre | 1(2) | No | Do first if decent weather forecast |
| 1B | Laguna de los Tres | 1(2) | No | Stay overnight at Campamento Poincenot |
| 1A | Campamento Poincenot | 1(2) | No | Popular trekking campsite |
| 1A | Campamento Agostini | 1(2) | No | Popular trekking campsite |
| 1A | Campamento Laguna Capri | 1(2) | No | Less busy trekking campsite |
| 1A | Source of Rio Fitz Roy | 1(2) | No | Easy excursion from Campamento Agostini |
| 1A | Mirador Maestri | 1(2) | No | Better views of Cerro Torre, Torre
Egger and Cerro Standhardt |
| 1A | Ice trekking – Glacier Grande | 1(1) | Yes | Guided treks regularly available in El Chalten |
| 1A | Piedra del Fraile | 1(2) | No | Sheltered campsite in Rio Electrico valley |
| 1B | Piedras Blancas Glacier | 1(2) | No | Sheds icebergs into small glacial lake |
| 1B+ | Laguna Sucia | 1(2) | No | Source of Rio Blanco |
| 2A | Lago Toro | 1(2) | No | Combine with Paso del Viento |
| 2B | Loma del Pliegue Tumbado | 1(3) | No | Great views of Torres and Fitz Roy skyline |
| 2B+ | Rio Pollone valley | 1(2) | No | Different views of Fitz Roy |
| 2B+ | Piedra Negra | 1(2) | No | Steep hillside to high mountain
cirque. Great views |
| 2B+ | Cerro Electrico lookout | 1(2) | No | Great views to Fitz Roy |
| 2B+ | Campamento Poincenot to Campamento Agostini | 1(3) | No | See the ‘postcard’ views to Campamento Agostini from both the main glacial lakes |
| 2B+ | Refugio los Troncos to Campamento Poincenot | 1(3) | No | Passes Piedras Blancas Glacier |
| 2B+ | Refugio los Troncos to Campamento Agostini | 1(4) | No | Multi-day trek taking in most of the trekking campsites |
| 2B+ | Paso Agachonas | 2(3) | Yes |
Rarely used pass, tyrolean traverse required |
| 2B+ | Paso del Viento | 3(3) | Yes | Easiest way to see Southern Patagonian Ice Cap |
| 2B+ | Paso Huemul | 2(3) | Yes | Great views to Lago Viedma and the
Southern Patagonian Ice Cap |
| 2B+ | Cerro Madsen | 1(2) | No | Easy trekking peak/scramble |
| 2B+ | Loma del Diablo | 1(1) | No | Easy trekking peak |
| 2G | Paso Cuadrado | 1(2) | Yes | Stupendous views |
| 2G | Polish/Norwegian bivouacs | 2(3) | Yes | Close-up views of Cerro Torre |
| 3G | Paso Marconi | 3(3) | Yes | Better views than Paso del Viento
but slightly more adventurous |
| 3G | Punta Fina | 2(3) | Yes | Trekking peak |
| 3G | Paso Cuadrado to Filo del Hombre Sentado (Sitting Man Ridge) |
3(3) | Yes | Trek below the spectacular west face of Monte Fitz Roy |
| 3G | Paso Marconi to Paso del Viento |
6(9) | Yes | Smooth, flat, thick - as close to polar exploration as you are likely to get |
| 3G+ | Paso Guillaumet | 2(3) | Yes | Short climbing pitch. Rare views to
the ice cap and east to the steppes |
| 3G+ | Paso Superior | 1(2) | Yes | Steep snow slopes to climbers' snow caves |
| 3G+ | Head of the Piedras Blancas Glacier |
1(2) | Yes | Unbeatable views of Fitz Roy |
| 3G+ | Paso Guillaumet to Paso Superior |
2(3) | Yes | Traverses right underneath Fitz Roy skyline |
| 3G+ | Paso Cuadrado to Filo del Hombre Sentado to Paso Guillaumet to Paso Superior |
3(5) | Yes | Multi-day glacial travel with terrific views |
Grade information
Dislaimer - Grading is by its nature subjective and you are solely responsible for ensuring you are properly experienced, prepared and equipped for any activity you undertake. The recommendation of a guide is based on a fit adult with no experience of glacial travel or mountaineering techniques. If you are experienced in the mountains, a guide may well not be required. Only you can judge.
The grades given for the treks in the book are based on a fit adult with previous trekking experience but no experience of glacial travel or mountaineering techniques. Grades are on a two-tiered basis, the first (number) detailing how fit you should be to enjoy the trip and the second (letter) being the type of terrain you should expect to encounter. Each grade should be assumed to include everything from the grades preceding it.
1. Basic level of fitness
2. Intermediate level of fitness, trekking experience
desirable
3. High level of competence, fitness and desire. Winter
trekking and camping experience required
A Low level walks on good paths. Mild inclines
B Some off-trail walking, steep inclines, possibly short
periods of stable glacial travel
B+ Off-trail trekking experience required
G Glacial travel. Ropes, ice axes and crampons required
G+ Scrambling/climbing experience recommended
