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Southern Patagonia Ice Field

Southern Patagonia Ice Field Expedition

The southern patagonia ice field is considered the third continental ice mass of the planet. It is approximate 400 km long and 100 km wide. It is situated in Western Patagonia. On its surroundings you’ll see Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy.
The wildness of the place and its marvellous views make this trekking one of the most beautiful treks in the World.

The Route

The expedition to Southern Patagonian IceFields is a traverse to the third world greatest ice-mass; an unexplored area, thus, still virgin. Said traverse starts and ends up at El Chaltén village, at the south of the Argentinian Patagonia. All along this traverse, we will find the most assorted landscapes, changing from white horizons to giant glacier moreins and imposing ice-masses, as well as, from dense lengas and ñires forests to different colored lakes and lagoons. We will also be able to appreciate, of course, the impressive granite walls of Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy.

Itinerary

Day 1:

Reception at El Calafate Internacional Airport. Transfer to el Chalten (5 hours trip). Night at hostel at El Chalten. Hot shower and dinner.

Day 2:

Trekking to Piedra del Fraile. It takes almost 7 hours carrying day sacks. During this trek we can visit Fitz roy Base Camp. We can admire the granito walls and its peaks.  Camp: Piedra del Fraile.

Day 3:

Trekking to Marconi glacier base. Our camp 1 aprox 5 hours.

Day 4:

Ascend to Marconi Pass up to the entrante of the Ice Field ( 7/8hours). We wil ascend a 30º path through the edge of the grand Platou. We will see a fantastic view of the Fits Roy and the Pier Goirgio, a granito wall similar to the Half Dome at Yosmite Valley. At the north camp on the glaciar.

Day 5:

Trekking  to the south that will take aprox 7 hours. We will cross the glacier and we will have a panoramic view of the Morena Peak. We will campa t the fantastic “ Circo de los altares”. It is formed with the wordly known Fitz Roy and Torre Peak. You’ll be able to see their amazing wall ice of 1000mt high.

Day 6:

Trekking to Laguna de los esquís (Ski Lake). It takes 5/6 hours. We will walk through the glacier covered by snow and we will slowly lose high.

Day 7:

We will ascend Del Viento Pass, leaving the ice field. We will cross a little glacier on the base of Grande Peak on our way to the camp in the forest.

Day 8:

We will enjoy a pleasant walk through grass and forest with our day sack. ( the gear will be transport by horses) back to El Chalten. Hot bath and dinner. Night at El Chalten.

Days 9 10 y 11:

We consider these days as spare day incase of bad weahter. During this spare time we can make some walks on the wood or walt to the basce camp of the amazing “Aguja Mermoz & Guillaumet”

Day 12:

Transfer to El Calafate to take the flight back home.

NOTES

Inka expeditions reserve the right to change the itinerary or to cancel any activity when the clients or group safety is on risk.
The spare days will be use in case of bad weather conditions that unable the group to continue the expedition (inside the Ice Field). If weather is good, we will use those extra days to enjoy the experience.

Technical experience on the use of crampons or ski shoes is not required for this expedition.

Trekking and camping knowledge is required.

INCLUDED SERVICES

• 2 night of Accomodation at Refuge in El Chalten according itinerary.
• Sleeping tents and all meals during the trekking.
• Kitchen equipment for the whole group.
• Safety equipment such as ropes and hardwear.
• First Aid Box .
• Porter service. 1 porter each 4 persons.
• Mountain Guide. (Bilingual, experienced, professionals, qualified to operate within National Parks)
  GPS (geoposicionador satelital)
• Transfer to Electric River ( 15km from El Chalten)
• Transfer Aeropuerto Internacional – El Chalten – Aeropuerto Internacional. (200 Km.).
• Radio comunications system.

NOT INCLUDED :

• Personal equipment
• Travel Assistance insurance. Rescue or other costs due to abandon of expedition.
• Personal expenses (tips, laundry, phone, drinks, personal porters)
• Extra nights in hotel in case of early return to the city.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Light Weight Long Underwear. Tops and bottoms.
  "Expedition Weight" Long Underwear. Tops and bottoms. Polypropylene or Capilene, cotton blends are not acceptable.
• Fleece Jacket. Mid-weight to heavy-weight.
• Fleece Trousers. Light-weight pile. Recommended with full separating side zippers to allow for easy accessibility and effective ventilation. Bibs are not recommended due to the extra weight.
• Parka: Down or synthetic parka with hood. Expedition type; needs to fit over all insulation layers.
• Jacket: Waterproof/ breathable. Good storm-proof mountain jacket with attached hood. We suggested: Gore-Tex.
• Wind Pants: Waterproof/ breathable. We suggested: Gore-Tex. Full separating side zips required.
  
  

Headgear

• Sun hat: Sun hat with good visor and white bandana for protecting neck.
• Balaclava: 1 light weight. We suggested: Polypropylene or Capilene.
• Wool or pile ski hat.
• Head lamp (spare bulbs & batteries). We suggested: Petzl Zoom.
• Glacier glasses: 100% UV, must have side covers. If you wear contacts or glasses, we recommend packing a spare pair of glasses. We suggested: Cebe, Julbo, Bolle and Ray Ban.
 


Hands

• Synthetic gloves: 2 pair light weight, pile or polypropylene.
  
• Mittens: 1 pair. Pile or wool.
  
• Gore-Tex’s overmitts: Recommend "tough-tek" shell palms for better grip. Suggested: Outdoor Research Expedition Modular Mitts or Wild Country Extremities.
 


Footwear

• Light hiking boots or trekking shoes.
  
• Climbing boots: Double plastic boots. We suggested: Koflach or Assolo.
• Gaiters: Gore-Tex + Cordura. We suggested: Outdoor Research Crocodiles.
• Wool socks. (3 pair) Cold weather socks. Expedition-weight wool or woolen blend.
• Liner socks. 2 pair of smooth wool, nylon or polypropylene to be worn next to the skin. This reduces the incidence of blisters and hot-spots.
   


Climbing Equipment

• Ice axe: General mountaineering tool. Sizing is important: under 1.7 mts (5'7") use a 60cm tool; 1.7-1.9 mts (5'7"-6'2") use a 65cm tool; over 1.9 mts (6'2") use a 70cm tool. Recommended: Grivel.
• Crampons: Step-in bindings. We suggested: Charlet Moser Super 12. No Footfangs or Simond Scorpions or Grivel Rambo
• Ski poles: 1 pair collapsible.
• Ice Hammer. Short (40-55cm) tool.
• Seat Harness. Harness should fit over all clothing, have adjustable leg loops and be comfortable to hang suspended in.
• Climbing Helmet.
• Carabiners. 2 Locking carabiners+ 2 Standard carabiners.
• Prusik. 3 m. 5-6 mm. rope.

Camping

• Backpack: Internal frame pack at least 5,000 cu.in. You must have ice axe haul loops and crampon attachment point. Recommended: The North Face, Lowe Alpine, Greggory.
• Daypack: Optional.
• Sleeping bag: Expedition quality to at least -18ºC (0ºF).1 kg. of down preferred. (Only, 650-700cu.in.fill; High Quality)
• Ridge Rest sleeping pad. 1 full length foam.
• Therma rest pad: 1 3/4 length with repair kit. Optional.
• Dish, glass, knife, spoon and folk: Unbreakable set for high camps
• Pocketknife: Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool.
• Water bottles: one one-liter wide-mouth water bottle, one one-liter thermous
• Pee bottle: 1litre wide mouth water bottle.
• Pee Funnel (for women): Suggested: Freshette.
• Sun screen: SPF 30-40.
• Lip screen: SPF 20-40, at least 2 sticks.
• Personal first aid kit. Simple and light.
• 5 nylon bags 1 mtr long and 0.5 wide

Traveling

• Large duffel bag with lock. 1 for transporting gear. Should be large enough to hold your fully packed internal frame pack inside as well as other equipment.
• Smaller duffel with lock. (To store excess gear in hotel.)
• Plastic bags. To line stuff sacks to keep gear dry.
• Travel clothes.
• Toiletry bag.
• Camera gear. Optional.

Date

December 1st to december 12th

Duration

12 Days

Discipline

Technical trekking on glaciers/ice

Price

U$S 1800