Scott - Jan 16, 2024 8:22 pm Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2023
Tronador
December 6
This was day 1 or our Tronador climb, a climb that had been on my list since 1984 and one that I really looked foreword to. It is a magnificent mountain that is one of the highest in Patagonia.
Ignacio, Kessler, and I hiked up to the Otto Meiling Hut on Tronador. There was still snow much of the way and the skies were clear making it a really spectacular walk. The forest, waterfalls, and mountain views were all great. There was lots of potholing the last 1/4 of the way or so, but it was a great walk.
December 7
Today we climbed Tronador The glaciers, icefalls, seracs, crevasses, and rock walls are all incredibly spectacular. The top part had some challenging mixed climbing and it was a great climb. The first 3/4 of the climb was easier than I expected and we only had to walk by, but not jump over any of the huge crevasses.
Unfortunately and as usual we couldn't get photos of the more difficult and dramatic parts of the climb due to focusing on rope work, but it sure was a beautiful mountain.
We could have hiked all the way down today, but I had booked the hut for two nights since I thought we'd take longer. We did the route in 10 hours round trip.
December 8
Today we walked back down the mountain and like the trip up, it was a spectacular walk. We saw many condors and other birds as well.
Cal - Jul 12, 2018 10:00 am Date Climbed: Jan 17, 2013
Tried for Pico Argentina, crossed new to old refuge
Turned around maybe 30 meters shy of summit for wind. Days later we crossed the glacier from the new refuge to the old refuge with very hot weather. Beautiful mountain. Big, bottomless crevasses- very cool!
hellobeccalee - Oct 9, 2008 2:07 pm Date Climbed: Dec 15, 2007
Summit of Pico Argentina
Started at Pampa Linda and took trail to Carabineros hut on South side of Tronador. Be prepared with river crossing footwear for this trail. Accessed camp 1 via south ridge and stayed at 1st snow bowl. Hiked to high camp at Refugio Viejo via snow fields on South side of Tronador. If leaving camp early, have crampons and ice axe strapped on. Spent three days doing skills, while waiting for weather window (hiked as a part of a training) on glacier at Refugio Viejo. Summit day was smooth, with some route finding through crevasses below the col which access pico international and argentina (high danger of serac falls here). Access to summit from col saw 40 degree snow and 45 degree ice with bad runout (100ft fall on seracs). Fixed lines were used to decrease danger potential. Started day at 3am and returned to camp at 5pm (waited for slower party at summit bottleneck and serac fall in col). Descended following day via Refugio Otto Meiling and trail to Pampa Linda. Much route finding through crevasse field this day (rope travel recommended).
Scott - Jan 16, 2024 8:22 pm Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2023
TronadorDecember 6
This was day 1 or our Tronador climb, a climb that had been on my list since 1984 and one that I really looked foreword to. It is a magnificent mountain that is one of the highest in Patagonia.
Ignacio, Kessler, and I hiked up to the Otto Meiling Hut on Tronador. There was still snow much of the way and the skies were clear making it a really spectacular walk. The forest, waterfalls, and mountain views were all great. There was lots of potholing the last 1/4 of the way or so, but it was a great walk.
December 7
Today we climbed Tronador The glaciers, icefalls, seracs, crevasses, and rock walls are all incredibly spectacular. The top part had some challenging mixed climbing and it was a great climb. The first 3/4 of the climb was easier than I expected and we only had to walk by, but not jump over any of the huge crevasses.
Unfortunately and as usual we couldn't get photos of the more difficult and dramatic parts of the climb due to focusing on rope work, but it sure was a beautiful mountain.
We could have hiked all the way down today, but I had booked the hut for two nights since I thought we'd take longer. We did the route in 10 hours round trip.
December 8
Today we walked back down the mountain and like the trip up, it was a spectacular walk. We saw many condors and other birds as well.
Cal - Jul 12, 2018 10:00 am Date Climbed: Jan 17, 2013
Tried for Pico Argentina, crossed new to old refugeTurned around maybe 30 meters shy of summit for wind. Days later we crossed the glacier from the new refuge to the old refuge with very hot weather. Beautiful mountain. Big, bottomless crevasses- very cool!
hellobeccalee - Oct 9, 2008 2:07 pm Date Climbed: Dec 15, 2007
Summit of Pico ArgentinaStarted at Pampa Linda and took trail to Carabineros hut on South side of Tronador. Be prepared with river crossing footwear for this trail. Accessed camp 1 via south ridge and stayed at 1st snow bowl. Hiked to high camp at Refugio Viejo via snow fields on South side of Tronador. If leaving camp early, have crampons and ice axe strapped on. Spent three days doing skills, while waiting for weather window (hiked as a part of a training) on glacier at Refugio Viejo. Summit day was smooth, with some route finding through crevasses below the col which access pico international and argentina (high danger of serac falls here). Access to summit from col saw 40 degree snow and 45 degree ice with bad runout (100ft fall on seracs). Fixed lines were used to decrease danger potential. Started day at 3am and returned to camp at 5pm (waited for slower party at summit bottleneck and serac fall in col). Descended following day via Refugio Otto Meiling and trail to Pampa Linda. Much route finding through crevasse field this day (rope travel recommended).
Pedro Hauck - Oct 22, 2003 1:58 am
Route Climbed: normal Date Climbed: March 2003nice mountain!