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Chile and Argentina, October-December 2014

Jordan Moore · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 60

Update on the Frey conditions:
The area got hit with a snow storm and forecasts show cold weather continuing through the week. We're headed to Piedra Parada to clip bolts in sunshine. Come join if anyone you're around!

Mike Sullivan · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2004 · Points: 60

Hey Jordan and others,

I'll be arriving in Bariloche tonight. Looks like the weather will still be bad for the next few days, but I am up for climbing whenever conditions allow. How's Piedra Parada?

William Dabbert · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 80

Hey Mike (and to all on this forum)!
Looks like I'm a little late to the discussion, but still stoked I stumbled upon it! I just moved to Mendoza, Argentina to learn Spanish. I finished up school this past May up in San Diego, CA, and am desperately looking for climbing partners! From the info that I've gathered, it looks like Los Arenales supposedly has some really good climbing with tons of multi-pitch and is only around 60 km away from the city. I'm comfortable climbing anything up into the mid-5.11 range.

In order to save weight during my initial travels down here, I only took the absolute essentials (clothes, shoes, backpack(s), etc...and climbing shoes/chalk bag/harness+ATC, of course!). However, it is my plan to have a 90L North Face duffel sent down here asap (aka as soon as I find people to climb with), which is filled with my entire rack of climbing gear (60 m bicolor rope, 11 quickdraws, 5 alpine draws, full set of cams [mostly with doubles and triples], set of nuts, and some other miscellaneous camping gear).

Anyways, my Spanish immersion program lasts until late January. I'm planning on staying in Mendoza for the duration of the program, but when it's all done I'd like to start heading down south to El Chalten/Patagonia.

Hope to be able to climb with some of you (or anyone for that matter!)!

Cheers,
William Dabbert
billdabbert@gmail.com

Mike Sullivan · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2004 · Points: 60

Hey William, I hope you have a good time at Los Arenales. I'm already too far south to want to head back up your way, but I would be curious to hear your thoughts about LA and Mendoza after you've been there for a while. I've heard a few bad stories about thieves, so heads up... Looks like a cool areat, though.

I'll be gone by the time you come down south, but I think you're gonna love it down here, at least when the weather is good. :-)

Lizzy VanPatten · · Bellingham, WA · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 25

It's official! I fly into Santiago, Chile on December 15th and am looking to climb as soon a possible. All I have with me at the moment are my shoes, harness, and atc. Let me know if you want to meet up. At the moment I have no plans and am willing to move around

BeccaS · · Seattle, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 35

Hi everyone, I'm arriving in Bariloche this Saturday evening. I was planning on taking Sunday to gather my bearings and get supplies and then hike up to Frey on Monday. I have a couple questions for those who have been up there already.

1) My plan was to head up there and beg for partners, but having never been there before, I don't know if it's the best plan. Is it best to try to find partners in Bariloche or Frey? Also, it would be great to coordinate with anyone on this thread to climb if you know your plans and you'll be around the next couple of weeks.
2) I really only brought personal gear (harness, shoes, personal anchor, ATC, autoblock chord, some biners and nut tool). I'm willing to get a rope if that increases my chances of snagging a partner for some longer routes (although I'd rather not--already have 2 at home), but I don't know what the gear places are like there. There's a store here in Buenos Aires that sells climbing ropes. a) is it worth it for me to get a rope/is not having a second rope enough of a barrier to getting on longer routes that I should have one to offer? b) if so, should I grab one in BA or are there enough gear places to get one in Bariloche if needed?

Any input would be awesome. I'm planning on stopping in at Club Andino for more info, but I'll take any insight you have. Hope to be climbing with one of you soon!

Mike Sullivan · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2004 · Points: 60

From what I've seen so far, it's better to look for a partner up at the refugio. You probably don't need to bring a rope -- it might help a bit but you can most likely find a partner just by having your personal gear. There are a lot of climbs in the guidebook that don't need two ropes to descend. Anyway, let's plan on meeting up to do a few climbs. Hope the weather is good for next week!

Holger Wolff · · Santiago, Chile · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0

I agree with Mike, very likely to find a partner up there. If its no to busy, one of hut wardens might go, but they would probaly charge for this. People that came for climbing will usually have all necessary gear.
But anyway its worth to ask down in Club Andino in Bariloche, there or in some hostals might be a pin wall.
This time is supposed to appear the new guide book.

Kevin Nichols · · Evergreen, CO · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 10

Mike and anyone else who would like to climb in Bariloche,

I'm currently in Bariloche and looking for climbing partners. Mike, funny enough, I saw your message outside of Club Adrino earlier today after trying to arrange a guiding setup since I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find any other climbers. I wrote down your email and jumped on the computer to see if I could try to find any partners when I stumbled across this forum. Obviously, I recognized the email immediately.

I'm currently with a couchsurfing host until next week and then after that the possibilies really are endless. If I could find a partner for the Frey I'd be down to stay awhile and climb. I don't have any of my climbing gear as it's all back in Denver, Colorado. However, If I can find a partner I'd be willing to grab a new harness/shoes and go from there. I can of course have my other gear sent down if you or anyone else are looking to climb for more than a couple of weeks. Let me know! I'd love to meet up!

Thanks,
Kevin

Mike Sullivan · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2004 · Points: 60

Hey Kevin, I'm here for 5 more weeks and am available to climb at least 3-4 days per week. I was wondering if I would get any responses to that note on the Club Andino board. It's been up for 2 weeks... Can you send me an email and let me know more about your plans/goals while you're here?

Artem Bylinskii · · Vancouver, British Columbia · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 0

Hey Mike and Company!
I am also a bit late to the party, but am making my way down to Patagonia as well and will get to Bariloche as early as this Friday, Nov 28th. I am looking to climb as much as possible and have more gear than you can shake a stick at. I have a free schedule and can spend as much time in Frey as is interesting. I am also stoked on checking out Cochamo. I am also looking at spending most of January in El Chaltén and then a couple of weeks in Torres Del Paine if anyone else is on a similar schedule. Best to reach me by email - artembylinskii@gmail.com. Let's work something out.

Jordan Moore · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 60

I'm headed to the Frey tomorow with a partner but look for me around the refugio if you're still around! Carrying double ropes, green mountain hardware tent, and will be 22 year old dirtbag with a beard playing on the rocks :) See you in the Frey!

Gabriel Kiritz · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 235

Hey folks, I'm finally making plans to take off work starting this Friday to head to either Cochamo or Frey for Dec. 12th-21st.

Who is still in Frey and plans on being there through those dates?

Is anyone interested in heading to Cochamo, and is it worth spending a week there if I'm a 5.8/5.9 trad leader?

Shoot me an email if you haven't already!

BeccaS · · Seattle, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 35

I'm in El Chalten this week. If anyone wants to climb, let me know.

John Lombardi · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 995
Gabe K wrote:Hey folks, I'm finally making plans to take off work starting this Friday to head to either Cochamo or Frey for Dec. 12th-21st. Who is still in Frey and plans on being there through those dates? Is anyone interested in heading to Cochamo, and is it worth spending a week there if I'm a 5.8/5.9 trad leader? Shoot me an email if you haven't already!
Gabe,

It seems like there may be a couple routes in the 5.8/5.9 range in Cochamo, and a good amount more in the 5.10 range. I'll be in Chile starting the 16th but planning on heading down to Cochamo or Frey asap. I would really like to climb at Frey but am a bit hesitant to spend the $160 fee to cross the border.

My current plan is to head to Cochamo after I fly in to Santiago. I haven't heard back from others but I know there should be a couple people there according to the Cochamo message board ( cochamo.com/message%20board/).

I don't remember your e-mail but shoot me an e-mail at jalomb01@syr.edu for whatever you end up doing. I plan on doing some backpacking in Torres Del Paine from Dec29th-January but would be interesting in maybe going to Frey (if time permits) as I head back towards Santiago.
Gabriel Kiritz · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 235

Hey John, thanks for the heads up. I had forgotten about the Cochamo message board. I ended up paying my Argentine reciprocity fee & buying a ticket to Bariloche, so I'm headed there Sunday. I think it's a better option for me given my ability level and going in without a partner.

If I'm feeling up for it, I plan on hiking into the Frey Sunday afternoon/evening after arriving. See any and all of you up there Sunday & Monday, looking to climb all week! Be there 12/14-12/20

Mike Sullivan · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2004 · Points: 60

Hey Gabe, the forecast at Frey is for some rain and clouds on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, so it might be worthwhile to hang in Bariloche for a day. I just came down from Frey last night to restock my food supplies and go back up, but will probably stay in town over the weekend because of the weather. We can meet here in town if you like, or else I'm sure we'll see each other up at the Refugio. Let me know if you want any beta on the city or on getting up to Frey.

If you are feeling solid on 5.9+, there are a whole bunch of fun routes to go do. That's the gateway grade for many of the towers. There are also a couple of good lines that go at 5.8 or 9-. Let's plan on climbing together for at least a day and I can show you around.

I'll still be around in Bariloche until Dec 22, and will probably spend another 3-4 day chunk of time up at Frey based on the weather forecast -- maybe Monday to Thursday? Playing it day by day...

Cameron Afzal · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 10

Hey I am in the Bariloche area as well, free until the 24th. Anyone interested in some sport climbing? I can lead 5.10c and follow 5.11b. I will be up hiking around the Frey as well but I have never climbed trad... I would love to hit Piedra Parada! Laguna Trebol and Cerro Lopez also look like good spots. My email is cameron.afzal@gmail.com .

Lizzy VanPatten · · Bellingham, WA · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 25

Hey everyone,

Just arrived in Santiago yesterday and am trying to make some plans. Has anyone climbed at Valle de los Condores in Chile? If so, any advice on finding partners for the area?
Or is anyone looking for partners either somewhere near Santiago or in the Frey? I only have my personal gear with me right now.

Mike Sullivan · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2004 · Points: 60

I plan on taking a bus from Bariloche down to El Chaltén this Monday or possibly Tuesday. Does anyone have plans to be there in the coming two weeks? Looking to do a couple of climbs on Guillaumet but am open to other ideas.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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