In the next season I plan to go to this area. The rough idea is to enter the Valle Colorado heading for Alma Negra / La Mesa and La Ramada then crossing via Paso Ancho for the normal route of Mercedario and walking out via Los Molles.
- is the road out of Los Molles already passable?, and if the road is good again is Los Molles a good pick up point or should I count on hiking all the way to Casa Amerilla?
- is Paso Ancho the only option to reach the normal route of Mercedario from Valle de Colorado?
- anybody knows where to order the AIGM sheets for this area or are those maps not much usefull?
Any advise is highly appreciated + thanx for taking your time!
Gert

I would suggest emailing Anibal Maturano at Don Mercedario Expeditions. Does not sound like you want a guide, but he knows the area better than anyone. We did not have maps when we went and it really was not a problem finding our way around Valle Colorado. The summitpost page information is good enough to get around.

Yes, check with Anibal, or with Corax who did the same combination you are planning a few years ago. Corax has a trip report saying Paso Ancho was tricky because of loose scree. The road is open to El Molle and even beyond to the lake closer to Mercedario. I was just on it in December. See the Mercedario mountain page. I can send you maps (hand drawn) and GPS points.

Bob

Here's the trip report.
Not only because of loose scree. If rainy/wet, there's big risk for rock slides.
I think you have an excellent plan Gert

Thank you all so far!
Bob, I sent you a PM with my email - would be nice to receive your GPS points.
I will probably contact Don Mercedario Expeditions and organize the mules for the way in with them. I just want to figure out as much as I can befor - it is always fun to create a new plan. There is a lot of usefull info on summitpost.
A nice trip report and beautiful pictures, Corax!
Gert