Southern Patagonian Icecap Expedition 2011

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Expedition page for our trip onto the Southern Patagonian Icecap in November and December 2011. Includes latest updates from the icecap, maps, tracking, itineraries and weather details.

Expedition Progress

Until the Expedition starts there will be only test signals from Lanjaron, Spain.
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Latest Expedition Updates

Go here if you wish to visit all our expedition updates

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:43:11 +0000: Patagonia Expedition Update No 11 – Team back to El Chaltern - Trip Reports, News & Mountain Conditions for the Sierra Nevada » Expedition Updates
The team have today made their final decent after crossing the river and back through the tunel valley and into the village of El Chaltern. Well done. Time to enjoy a nice cold beer and a homemade meal. For more information and dates on our trips to Patagonia see our Patagonia Icecap page.
Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:09:46 +0000: Patagonia Expedition Update No 10 – Coming off the Glaciers - Trip Reports, News & Mountain Conditions for the Sierra Nevada » Expedition Updates
The group is making good progress on the trek back to El Chaltern. They are off the glaciers and have only the freezing cold glacial rivers to cross before their feet touch green grass again ! They will be camping another night and crossing the river in the morning.
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:03:29 +0000: Patagonia Expedition Update No 9 – Laguna Ferrari Glacial Lake - Trip Reports, News & Mountain Conditions for the Sierra Nevada » Expedition Updates
The group has made it safely off the main ice and is setting up camp for the night in a sheltered area by the Laguna Ferrari glacial lake. Plenty of water here and no need to melt snow for drinking water tonight ! Tomorrow is the climb out over the Paso del viento (windy pass) [...]
Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:55:45 +0000: Patagonia Expedition Update No 8 – Circo de los Altares - Trip Reports, News & Mountain Conditions for the Sierra Nevada » Expedition Updates
The team have reached Circo de los Altares. This is a relatively sheltered camp area regularly used by trekking groups. They have good weather so they should be able to get some fantastic photos of the west face of Cerro torre glowing red in the low sun. Tomorrow the weather looks good so they will [...]
Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:54:34 +0000: Patagonia Expedition No 7 – Grounded at Camp 1 - Trip Reports, News & Mountain Conditions for the Sierra Nevada » Expedition Updates
Another antagonizing day for the Spanish Highs team as high winds have forbidden them to move on across the Icecap today. Although weather forecast show good weather for tomorrow there is never a importantly as to what it really could be like there. So with a bit of luck they will once again be able [...]

Itinerary

Icefield Map

19th Nov – Leave Spain/UK
20th Day 1 – Arrival El Calefate airport. Transfer to El Chalten (3hrs).
21st Day 2 – Day in El Chalten buying food and provisions. Icecap permissions. Training (tent, ropework).
22nd Day 3 – Walk in to the campsite and refugio at Piedra del Fraile (Los Troncos). Level, sheltered and good, clean water available (4hrs).
23rd Day 4 – Move up to “La Playita” campsite by the side of Lago Electrico (3hrs).
24th Day 5 – To the Paso Marconi via the Marconi Glacier. 7-9hrs glacier walking with only 1 section of badly crevassed ground.
25th Day 6 – Traverse southwards on the icecap to the Cirque de los Altares (6hrs)
26th Day 7 – Southwards again coming off the ice below the Paso del Viento. Camp near to the Lago Ferrari (8hrs)
27th Day 8 – Up to the Paso del Viento and down eastwards into the Tunel valley (7hrs).
28th Day 9 – 1st Dec (day 12) – 4 spare days in case of bad weather / explore Glacier Rio Tunel with possible ascents of Cerro Murallon/Grande and Paso Solo Grande
2nd December – Back to El Chalten (8hrs).
3rd Dec Day 14 – Bus to airport at El Calafate. Flights home