Southern Patagonia Ice Cap Expedition

Arrival at Calafate Airport. A representative of Explore Beyond will be waiting for you and by private bus you will be transferred to Hotel Posada Los Alamos. The Hotel Posada Los Alamos is a unique 5 star property at the best location in town. 144 exclusively decorated rooms include 4 suites and the wildest range of services awaits the most demanding traveler. Services include Humus Spa, an indoor heated pool, dry and wet sauna, gym, whirlpools, massages, reading rooms, a cocktail bar and wine cellar. At night we will have our first dinner with the group in Patagonia.

Arrival at El Chaltén. The route from Calafate to El Chaltén is beautiful; unending horizons, mountains and hills with the incredible shapes and clear blue lakes where the wind and the sun can play their own game. Halfway we will stop at La Leona, an isolated restaurant and lodge in the middle of the steppe. El Chaltén is a small town of 300 inhabitants located at the foot of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. Here we will meet the rest of the group and our head guide. After lunch we will have a general briefing about the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and instructions on how to use camping and technical gear provided. Our guide will also check your personal gear in order not to carry unnecessary weight.

Hosteria El Puma - B, LB, D

The day begins with a private transfer to the bridge over Eléctrico River, 15 kilometres northwest of El Chaltén, and the start point of our trek towards the base of Marconi Glacier. We will walk the first two hours on a well-marked path, through a forest of Lengas and Ñires, alongside Eléctrico River.
At the end of the vegetation, we will stop for a few minutes in Piedra Del Fraile campsite (Refugio Los Troncos - property of Estancia Ricanor), our last encounter with civilization before our return to El Chaltén, at the end of the expedition. We will then enter into a great glacier valley surrounded by Treinta Aniversario, Marconi South, and North Peaks. From Piedra Del Fraile, we will follow the southern shore of Lake Eléctrico, crossing moraines and rocky formations left by the glaciers less than 70 years ago. Along the way walking, we will cross Pollone River, from where we will be able to observe the northwest face of Fitz Roy. One more hour of trekking will bring us to the western shore of Lake Eléctrico. We will set-up our camp there, only 20 minutes away from Marconi Glacier. After a well-earned rest, we might have some extra energy to explore the area. The participants, guides and other supporting staff will carry the equipment and food.

Walking distance: 12 kilometres - 7,46 miles (6 hours).
Elevation gain: 50 meters.
La Playita camp - B, LB, D

We will use these days as back up days to ascent Marconi Pass if weather is harsh. If we do not use them we will save them for the following days.

We will wake up at dawn to start our daily routine of the expedition: breakfast, packing up of camp and backpacks, and trekking. Only 30 minutes of walking will bring us in front of the Marconi Glacier. A gigantic scree moraine is our first obstacle; the terrain here is unstable and moves constantly, impeding the formation of a marked path. After this short but difficult stretch, we will climb on the glacier itself entering slowly a kingdom of snow and ice. This day might be the toughest of the expedition. We will climb 2400 ft (800 m) on ice and snow, using crampons, and round crevasses with the assistance of the guide and his team - with the aid of ropes if necessary. Marconi Glacier forms a pass that creates a bottle effect with the wind coming from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and the Pacific Ocean.

Participants will need to be not only physically, but also mentally prepared to trek in a rain or snowstorm. At the end of the day, we will arrive at our second campsite, in the shadow of Marconi South Mountain and only an hour away from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field itself. Our almost aerial campsite offers fantastic sunsets and sunrises over the Fitz Roy Range, Cerro Pier Giorgio, and Gorra Blanca.

Walking distance: 10 kilometres - 6,21 miles (7-9 hours).
Elevation gain: 800 meters.
Paso Marconi camp - B, LB, D

During these two days we will approach Vulcan Lautaro. We will divide our equipment between our backpacks and the sledges. We will build a camp on the ice field before reaching the bottom of the mountain during the second day, if the weather permits. Base camp surroundings of Vulcan Lautaro are amazing.

Walking distance: 12 kilometres a day - 7,46 miles (7-9 hours).
Elevation gain: 200 meters
Camp - B, LB, D

During one of the following days we will try to summit on Vulcan Lautaro. Lautaro rises more than 1000 meters over the ice field. Although the ascent itself is not technical, it is physically very demanding. We will encounter slopes with no more than 30º inclination, but probably full of crevasses. Near the top we will start noticing a sulphurous smell, coming from the still active volcano. Lautaro`s location was for many years mistaken and mysterious. An Argentine expedition to the ice field guided by Emiliano Huerta in 1952, named the volcano after Araucan hero “Lautaro” (1535 - 1557). In 1964 another expedition summited and proved that it was still an active.

Camp - B, LB, D

After a glorious ascent on Lautaro we will follow our own footprints back to Paso Marconi heading southeast. We will camp on the ice field on our way to the Paso Marconi.

Walking distance: 12 kilometres - 7,46 miles (7-9 hours).
Elevation drop: 50 - 100 meters descent
Camp - B, LB, D

In the morning, we will start the day with southbound trekking on the ice field to the "Circo De Los Altares", at the foot of the mythic Cerro Torre's west face. We will set up our camp once again on the ice.

Walking distance: 12 kilometres - 7,46 miles (6-7 hours).
Elevation drop: -200 meters.
Circo de Los Altares camp - B, LB, D

Trekking to De Los Esquíes lagoon on the lateral moraine of Viedma Glacier, where we will exit the ice field itself. If the weather and the physical condition of the participants permit, we will continue up to Paso Del Viento Hut.

Walking distance: 14 kilometres - 8,70 miles (8 hours).
Elevation gain and drop: 250 meters descent and 250 meters ascent of the end of the day
Paso del Viento Hut Camp - B, LB, D

This part of the expedition contours Cerro Huemul Andean steppe, lakes, and marvellous viewpoints accompany us towards Paso Huemul, where we will set up camp. Spectacular aerial views of Viedma Glacier’s snout as it calves into Lake Viedma will reward us.

Walking distance: 8 kilometres - 4,97 miles (6-7 hours).
Elevation gain and drop: 200 meters ascent and 50 meters descent
Huemul Pass Camp - B, LB, D

Trek down the steep descent to Lake Viedma and Cabo de Hornos Bay for our rendezvous with the boat Jose Luis Fonrouge for our return to Bahía Túnel (30 minutes away by minibus from El Chaltén.)

Walking distance: 5 kilometres - 3,11 miles (2-3 hours).
Elevation gain and drop: - 600 meters steep descent
Hosteria El Puma - B, LB, D

After breakfast we will pack our luggage and a transfer will drive us back to El Calafate. On the way we will stop for lunch at La Leona. At night we will have a farewell dinner.

Posada Los Alamos - B, LB, D

Private transfer to El Calafate`s airport and your return flight from El Calafate back home.