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markhallam - May 2, 2016 4:20 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice photosThanks for your vote on my Cordon del Plata page - hadn't come across you before so looked you up and ended up enjoying both your Marmalejo and Ramada trip reports.
Funnily enough I am actually thinking of Marmalejo for February 2017... did you reach summit? Can't see any summit photos... and apart from the difficult obstacles of the Penitentes was there any technical climbing involved?
best wishes
Mark
Tijs - May 2, 2016 6:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice photosThat's some coincidence, as I had been eyeing Cordon del Plata for quite a while, back then, before opting for Marmolejo.
So as for Marmolejo, from my own somewhat bitter experience, I can tell you, it can't be done without double boots. That caption about the 'frozen toes' is unfortunately almost true... Good to read that you can attempt it in February. That's certainly better than March.
The normal route is technically easy. There is no rock climbing and no ice climbing. It's essentially just a hike. You will need a thin rope on the glacier, but only for security (crevasses), not for climbing.
The one tricky part is between base camp and camp 1. You go up a really steep scree slope, on which you cannot secure yourself. It requires good balance, grippy soles and trekking poles.
As you can tell from the photos, Marmolejo offers both a substantial challenge —the refugio is at 1'948m, and the summit at 6'108m— and spectacular views. And because the mountain is so remote, you normally have it all to yourselves. On the other hand, the remoteness and solitude can also be a little unsettling. In high camp, we were on a small rocky island in the middle of this enormous glacier, just the two of us, with a storm outside, and days away from the nearest house. I thought that was nearly as unnerving as the massive 8.8M earthquake that hit us in base camp...
The scenery is very fine. Not as stunning and colorful as Ramada, I'd say, but more diverse, thanks to the erratic mix of volcanoes and fold mountains. And of a scale, far bigger than what we have here in Switzerland. It was, in short, an amazing trip! Go there, you'll love it.
PM me if you want more information.
Best wishes
Tijs
markhallam - May 4, 2016 1:11 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Nice photosThanks a lot for your detailed reply. I think you are right, that we would love it having enjoyed Plata so much. Roll on February 2018! Thanks for the offer to supply more information - there is nothing that compares to talking to someone who has actually been to a place (as dialogue with Corax proved for our Plata trip)- so will be pleased to PM you at some point.
Best wishes, Mark
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