Climbing Nevado Incahuasi (Puna de Atacama)

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Corax

 
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by Corax » Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:10 pm

I think it all depends on how much snow you have to go through. Normally, there's very little on the Puna, so I think you should be fine with your lighter shoes.
The only two peaks I felt a bit cold on my feet was on El Muerto and Pissis East. On those two peaks there's a lot of snow and even some glacial sections.
I should add; the route I took on El Muerto. We climbed the glacier and there's obviously a scree route on the Chilean side.

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Andino

 
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by Andino » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:09 am

Thank you Gehlhaar & Corax, perfect information ! :wink:

Which way did you choose on Incahuasi ? (Nadios describes a few possibilities)

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Corax

 
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by Corax » Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:02 pm

Myzantrope wrote:Which way did you choose on Incahuasi ? (Nadios describes a few possibilities)


Nadios and I climbed Incahuasi together.
We went in the middle of the couloir to start with and the plan was to continue all the way to the rocky section and then climb straight up to the first plateau. The rock was very bad though and we went up to the north ridge instead.
If I would climb the peak again, I would camp in the couloir and go straight for the ridge as soon as possible, to avoid the horrible volcanic scree in the couloir. The ridge is much more pleasent walking and you don't have to deal with the potentially dangerous (rotten) rock in the end of the couloir.

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Andino

 
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by Andino » Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:45 am

Thanks !

You mention a ridge to climb, is it visible on Nadios picture :
http://www.summitpost.org/images/original/102725.jpg
:?:

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Corax

 
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by Corax » Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:21 am

No.
The photo is taken from SSW and the north ridge is on the other side of the mountain.
I had a look on the Incahuasi page and I can't find a single photo with the north ridge clearly visible. The route page about the north ridge may create a bit of confusion as it shows the peak from the other side. I will tell Nadine about this.

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Corax

 
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by Corax » Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:53 am

Uploaded a map, with a bit of info.
http://www.summitpost.org/image/234821/154000/map.html

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Andino

 
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Map of the area

by Andino » Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:30 am

Brilliant map thanks !!

Where did you get the map from ? Bought it there ?
It seems to be very acurate...

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Corax

 
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by Corax » Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:43 am

I have found it very accurate.
There are obviously some small mistakes made on it. Some altitudes are some meters off, but nothing which will dramatically mess up any plan :wink:

I don't think it's available in Argentina, but Jonson has it. If you don't find the map, I guess you can photo copy the relevant sections of his map.

http://www.alpenverein.or.at/karten/Sho ... ml?navid=9
Image

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Andino

 
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by Andino » Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:11 pm

It looks perfect !

Do you have an idea of where I could buy on the internet ?
(as it seems that it's not to buy it on AV website...)

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Corax

 
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by Corax » Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:16 pm

I don't know of any place on the web.
I ordered it in my local book shop and it took them about 10 days to get it for me.
The price was 16 Euro.

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Bergrot

 
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by Bergrot » Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:29 pm

You can order it also via
http://www.dav-shop.de.
Unfortunately it seems that the website and the order form is only in German. But they ship also to France and elsewhere. You have to pay in advance.

Another online discount is http://www.mountain-bookshop.de/de/dept_1081.html.

The option Corax suggests to order via a book shop should also be possible and fast.

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Andino

 
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by Andino » Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:47 pm

Corax,

Just by curiosity : why not following the usual path when you hike up Incahuasi ?
The blue line showing your path is different from the "normal route".

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Corax

 
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by Corax » Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:30 pm

Myzantrope wrote:Corax,
Just by curiosity : why not following the usual path when you hike up Incahuasi ?
The blue line showing your path is different from the "normal route".


:roll:
I was a bit sick of too many walk-up peaks and thought it could be nice with at least some scrambling en route. Logic told me it would be rotten rock up there, but still I wanted to give it a try. When we reached the rock band, we realized it wasn't a smart idea going straight up as the rock was (as predicted) rotten and at the time we were there, it was a lot of thawing going on and that resulted in rock avalanches/falls.

Much better to use the normal route on the ridge.
:wink:

So, ignore the blue line and head up along the red line/normal route.

Edit: The reasons we went in the couloir at all in the first place:
1. That was the only place where we could find any snow.
2. It was more direct line from the place where the archeologist's BC was locatad. The blue line's starting point should be a little bit more to the right to be 100% correct.

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Andino

 
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by Andino » Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:40 pm

We plan on climbing Incahuasi the last week of February.

-> what it the faster way to reach Fiambala by bus ?
From La Rioja ? From Catamarca ?

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Bergrot

 
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by Bergrot » Mon Jan 29, 2007 1:36 pm

I only used the bus from Catamarca which goes 2 times daily and needs about 6-8 hours. From La Rioja it could take a little longer, since you have to switch in Aimogasta or Tinogasta. I assume, there is no direct connection La Rioja - Fiambala. But, when you are in Rioja its not worthy to go via Catamarca. From both towns you will need a half to one day to Fiambala by bus.

Another way is to ask Jonson, he can catch you up in La Rioja. Altough this alternative is relatively cheap, its costs definitely more, than the ~10€ you would pay for the bus.

Good luck

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