Climbing Reference for Patagonia
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Basically, I finally feel somewhat prepared to tackle some of the bigger objectives I have down here, probably next winter. However, I'm wondering how you reference this stuff. I've read plenty of AAJs, but is there anything more specific, i.e. guidebook-type things specifically for the Cerro Torre and Fitzroy regions? |
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Boy, good question. I would start with Google, you may find that someone has a website, especially for such a popular place. Another great reference is the AAJ website because you can search the AAJ's...makes research much faster. |
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Mike Anderson wrote: It would be good to ask a veteran of the area for tips.Good advice. No published guide for the Chalten area is available as far as I know. I would just wait until you get there, see what's in condition, then ask around the Chocolateria for details. |
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Hmm...I have also tried to find a guidebook (more for fantasizing than anything else) and had no luck. Freddie Wilkinson has a piece ( thenamelesscreature.com/200…) on his website about the smaller spires (de la S, Rafael, etc) but that doesn't include the Torre group or Fitzroy He also has a few links on the page which I haven't checked out. But overall, the best bet is just going down there and hanging out at the Chocolateria or El Muro. Plus any guide could give you beta. |
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If you speak spanish this site has some good info: |
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I thought Greg Crouch wrote a pseudo-guide for Patagonia, but looking on Amazon it appears his book is a narrative of his adventures there. |
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Was there a Mountain Profile in one of the Alpinist issues? I looked at my stack, but don't have all of them. They had one for the Towers of Pain. |
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There is a book "mountaineering in Patagonia" written by Alan Kearney that is a little dated but very informative. Not a pure guide book, as half of it is trip reports. |
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LB Mullin Jr. wrote: unsure of the issue.Fitz Roy by Rolo Garibotti: Alpinist 5 |
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Thanks everyone for your excellent replies. I have certainly talked to many Patagonia veterans, but it seems like I just get piecemeal advice (which I expected). Some good info on here, thanks a lot! |
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Mike, which Alpinist was the Torres Del Paine? Also, does anybody know of a library or something that has old Alpinist issues? |
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The AAC Library in Golden is awesome, if you live near by. They will mail stuff to you if you are a member, or if you pay. |
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Mike Anderson wrote:The AAC Library in Golden is awesome, if you live near by. They will mail stuff to you if you are a member, or if you pay. I will look at my Alpinists when I get home and find the issue if someone doesn't beat me to it.Ditto the AAC library. Alpinist 0 was pure Patagonia. Edit to add Alpinist 18 featured the Central Tower of Paine. Best book is probably "Patagonia - Terra magica per alpinisti e viaggiatori" by Buscaini/Metzeltin. In Italian. The back is full of climbing route descriptions. Pretty hard to find, though. Jill Neate says, "the nearest thing to a guidebook to the mountains of Patagonia is contained in Buscaini's book, Patagonia: terra magica, pages 175-269. It includes many illustrations, maps and topos." I have the hardbound edition (1987) but note that Chessler imports a newer paperback edition: chesslerbooks.com/item/1096… The Kearney book mentioned above is quite good too. Speakin' of Jill Neate, a bit dated (1994) but the reference "Mountaineering in the Andes" is probably the best collection of references for climbing down there. If you're researching Patagonia and climbing, its a great place to start. Edit to add: AAC library has both the Kearney and Buscaini books mentioned above. If you're a member...they ship them to you for free (all you have to do is pay return postage). Good luck! -Brian in SLC |
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Got to pataclimbing.com. All the beta you need combined with summitpost |
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I think Owen meant pataclimb.com , not pataclimbing.com |
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Yep, thank you for correcting me! |