Approach and base camp 
The Pampa del Leoncito between Barreal and the Santa Ana trailhead. 03/03/2011 09:57:59
Tasting the desert below some snow-capped peaks of the Ansilta Range. 03/03/2011 09:58:46  
Crossing the Rio Colorado for the seventh and last time. 04/03/2011 10:32:27
The grimace speaks volumes about just how freezing cold the water is. 04/03/2011 10:32:35   
Mercedario rising over our boulder-sheltered tent. 05/03/2011 08:15:51
In the Pirca de Polacos, below the south face of Mercedario. 05/03/2011 08:17:12
At the north side of the Valle del Colorado. 05/03/2011 11:46:10  
Relishing the first sight of Ramada. 06/03/2011 10:23:10
Examining the track leading to Alma Negra. 06/03/2011 12:18:29  
Short break while bringing food and fuel to camp 1. 06/03/2011 12:17:41
Gabriel studies Mercedario and Pico Negro on the way up to camp 1. 06/03/2011 12:17:53  
Preventing dehydration with Ramada looming large in the background. 06/03/2011 12:19:05
Lower end of the Italian Glacier. 06/03/2011 12:20:33  
Short break on the climb to camp 1, with what felt like a close-up view of the Italian Glacier. 06/03/2011 12:12:09
Mercedario dwarfs us on our climb to camp 1. Both photos by Gabriel Fava / Andes Limite. 06/03/2011 13:23:57
Camp 1
First night in camp 1: snow outside, dinner inside. 07/03/2011 20:01:11    
From camp 1:
Alma Negra, Pico San Juan, La Mesa, and Pico Franco Argentino. 08/03/2011 09:14:22
Pico San Juan, La Mesa, Pico Franco Argentino, and Pico Polaco. 08/03/2011 09:14:04
Pico Polaco, Mercedario, and Pico Negro. 08/03/2011 09:13:43
Mercedario, Pico Negro, and Wanda. 08/03/2011 09:13:15  
Ramada from camp 1. The route follows the north-east shoulder to the left. 08/03/2011 09:14:58 & 09:15:36  
Pass between Ramada and Alma Negra from camp 1. 08/03/2011 09:17:50
Eric in search of sun rays while camp 1 is still frozen in the shade. 08/03/2011 09:16:02 
Enjoying a break halfway up the steep slope leading to camp 2. Photo by Eric Sas (with his camera). 08/03/2011 11:42:15  
Camp 1 at 4600m, below Ramada. 09/03/2011 11:35:55
Rest and acclimatization day in camp 1. 09/03/2011 11:31:27
Camp 2 
A break while climbing to camp 2. 10/03/2011 12:48:46 & 12:49:01  
Looking at Wanda and Friuly with Pico Negro to the left. 10/03/2011 13:28:12
Eric before Pico Negro, Wanda, and Friuly. 10/03/2011 13:27:52  
Delicious pasta with mushrooms and cheese in camp 2. 10/03/2011 19:05:56
Panorama dinner in the Torres Rosadas high camp with Friuly in the background. Photo by Eric Sas (with his camera). 10/03/2011 19:14:12  
Dinner in the Torres Rosadas high camp with Ramada and the track up in the background. 10/03/2011 19:12:13 & 19:13:07  
A wind-sheltered break on summit day. 11/03/2011 10:26:06
At approximately 5500m, with some 45 minutes to go to Ramada's north-east ridge. Photo by Eric Sas (with his camera). 11/03/2011 11:12:08 
On Ramada's north-east ridge at 5700m. 11/03/2011 12:21:29    
From Ramada's north-east ridge at 5700m:
Main Andean divide between Pico Polaco and Mercedario. 11/03/2011 12:22:53
Mercedario and Pico Negro, with to their right the Agua Negra peaks Olivaras and Majadita on the horizon. 11/03/2011 12:22:23
Upper end of the Italian Glacier, La Mesa, Pico Polaco, and Mercedario. 11/03/2011 12:23:27 & 12:23:32  
Looking down on camp 2 or Torres Rosadas with Mercedario, Pico Negro, Wanda, and Friuly in the background. 11/03/2011 13:42:56 & 13:43:19  
Camp 2 or Torres Rosadas with Mercedario, Pico Negro, Wanda, and Friuly in the background. 11/03/2011 13:52:50 & 13:53:05
Back in base camp 
Back in the Pirca de Polacos base camp after a night which had left —note the white patches— some streams of the Rio Colorado frozen over. 12/03/2011 09:15:34
Photographer Eric casts his shadow over the Pirca de Polacos base camp. 12/03/2011 09:28:55  
Breakfast in the Pirca de Polacos base camp. 12/03/2011 09:16:51
Guanaco skeleton. 12/03/2011 15:20:19  
Exploring the Rio Colorado stream bed. 12/03/2011 15:17:46
Thorny bushes and grass tussocks with Mirador and Pico Polaco in the background. 12/03/2011 15:15:59
Paso Ancho 
Tomorrow's challenge: the steep and tricky climb to the balcony of the 6000ers near the Paso Ancho. 12/03/2011 15:30:05
Two days before: that same pass seen from high up on Ramada. 10/03/2011 13:28:18  
The three of us in base camp (taken with a self timer). 13/03/2011 08:31:07
Sunny breakfast below Mercedario. Both photos by Gabriel Fava / Andes Limite. 13/03/2011 08:56:51  
At just about the only flat spot of the climb to the Paso Ancho, with Ramada, Pico San Juan, and La Mesa in the background. 13/03/2011 11:14:11 & 11:15:14    
Pico San Juan, Pico Franco Argentino, La Mesa, and Pico Polaco. 13/03/2011 11:16:57
At two-thirds of the climb to the Paso Ancho and the balcony of the 6000ers:
Pico Polaco and the south face of Mercedario. 13/03/2011 12:29:31
Ramada, Pico San Juan, and La Mesa round the Valle Superior. 13/03/2011 12:29:48
Alma Negra, Pico San Juan, La Mesa, and Pico Polaco. 13/03/2011 12:30:04  
A good half an hour below the Paso Ancho. 13/03/2011 13:06:25
Leading Eric on the last meters up to the balcony. Both photos by Gabriel Fava / Andes Limite. 13/03/2011 13:43:21    
At the balcony of the 6000ers, a little east of the Paso Ancho cairn at the Don Antonio-Mercedario ridge:
Ramada, Alma Negra, and La Mesa round the Valle Superior. 13/03/2011 14:36:06
Alma Negra, La Mesa, and Pico Polaco. 13/03/2011 14:35:56
La Mesa, Pico Polaco, and the south face of Mercedario. 13/03/2011 14:35:49
Mate ritual. 13/03/2011 14:35:43  
Tackling the penultimate crossing of the Rio Colorado. Both photos by Gabriel Fava (with Eric's camera). 15/03/2011 10:41:06 & 10:41:31 And finally: a big THANK YOU to Gabi from both of us. You made an already spectacular climb even better.
Images
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Mercedario Group > Ramada / Paso Ancho / March 2011
