BACKPACKING PATAGONIA: CERRO HUEMUL CIRCUIT Octber 7 15 Duratin: 9 Days / 8 nights (Pre-Summit Adventure ) HIGHLIGHTS: The Huemul Circuit ranks as ne f Patagnia's mst demanding treks Cmbine trekking alng the cnventinal trails f Natinal Park Ls Glaciares, with trekking in a remte area f the park. It is backpacking carrying everything yu need fr the trip n yur back ver smetimes rugh, steep, and uneven terrain. Wilderness camping We will visit the mst famus sights in the area: Laguna de ls 3 & Laguna Trre Staying at Laguna Cndr Muntain Hut unique accmmdatin t relax befre trek! Majestic Views alng the Cerr Huemul Circuit DIFFICULTY: CHALLENGING (5) Very physically fit; 5-8 hurs trekking/day; able t carry a heavy backpack ver uneven terrain multiple days in a rw In this level, it is cmmn t find areas that require many hurs hiking ff-trail and acrss all kinds f terrain (scree, rcky, muddy, smetimes at steep angles). Mraines, bushes, bgs, scree slpes, glacier crssing n their ablatin areas, Passes, river wading, snw and any ther muntainus area. Hikers will carry backpacks, campsites are very rustic and remte, with n facilities. This is the True Patagnia! Requires backpacking experience (carrying 40-45 lbs/18-20 kgs backpack including a prtin f grup gear; sectins f steep trail and scree, river crssings by zip-line and/r wading) Lng walks f 6 t 10 hurs. The clients have t carry their wn equipment, and part f the general equipment (apprx 20 kils each participant). Persnal prters can be arranged fr an extra cst. Mderate t large elevatin gain and lss in altitude (400 t 1000 mts)/(1312 t 3280 ft) Ldging in Muntain Hut / Camps Physically very demanding. Previus technical muntaineering experience nt required. Previus experience f trekking and camping is required. We recmmend aerbic training befre the trip. ITINERARY Day 1: 7 th Octber El Calafate / El Chalten / Laguna Cndr Muntain Hut Receptin at El Calafate Airprt, Grup transfer t El Chalten, with English speaking guide. Transfer will pick up participants arriving with same flight, at El Calafate Airprt. In case f different arrival times r pick up pints, please ask fr private transfers with extra cst. On arrival in El Chalten, transfer t ur Laguna Cndr Muntain Hut set n the banks f Ri De Las Vueltas nrth f twn. There are great views f Mnte Fitz Ry s nrth face frm here. There will be a trip briefing befre dinner t explain the adventures that await us in the days ahead. Grup transfer El Calafate Airprt / El Chalten / Laguna Cndr Lunch Welcme Dinner (Fixed 3 Curse Meal n beverages). Accmmdatin: Twin Cabins at Laguna Cndr Muntain Hut. Day 2: 8 th Octber Full Day Laguna de ls 3 After breakfast, a shrt drive brings us t the trailhead. We ascend gradually all mrning alng the Ri Blanc t the base camp f the same name. This is the camp where climbers wait fr a break in the weather when attempting the always-difficult ascents f the granite mnlith named after Darwin s bat captain. We ascend mre steeply t Laguna De Ls Tres where we will have clse-up views f several f the rutes used t climb Fitz Ry, weather permitting. We will enjy ur bx lunch and then in the afternn g t ur camp.
Bx Lunch Dinner Accmmdatin: Duble Tents at Pincent Camp. Distance: 13 kms/8 mi (6 hurs) Elevatin Gain: 300mts/984 ft Day 3: 9 th Octber Trek t Laguna Trre After a nice breakfast, we will start ur trek t Trre Lake, We will walk thrugh the trail f Lake Madre and Hija until reaching camp Thrwd. During this trek, we will be able t enjy several different panramic spts that will allw appreciating several well-knwn munts such as Mt. Sl, Adela Crdn and stunning Munt Trre and take as many interesting pictures as we want. Full Bard Accmdatin: Duble Tents at Thrwd Camp. Distance: 8 kms/4 mi ( 3 hurs ) Elevatin Gain: 200 mts/656 ft Day 4: 10 th Octber Pas de las Agachnas After breakfast, we again crss the river by Tyrlean traverse and begin the lng ascent t Pas De Las Agachnas. As we g higher, the views f the surrunding peaks get ever mre dramatic. Once acrss the pass we descend int the Ri Tunel Valley, with ccasinal views f tmrrw s destinatin, El Pas Del Vient, Windy Pass. Upn reaching Ri Tunel, we fllw it west t ur camp just belw Laguna Tr. This will be ur camp fr tnight, nicely prtected in a small beech grve near tree line. Full Bard Accmmdatin: Duble Tents at Laguna Tr Camp. Distance: 20 kms/12 mi (7 hurs ) Elevatin Gain: 600 mts/1968 ft Day 5: 11 th Octber Pas del Vient Tday is the lngest and hardest day f ur trip, but if the weather cperates with clear skies, yu will be treated t ne f the mst unfrgettable experiences f yur utdr life. We begin with a crssing (by wading r Tyrlean traverse) f the river, then begin the lng ascent (2700 ) t Windy Pass. Early n there is a shrt stretch f the Tunnel Glacier t crss, fllwed by the steepest terrain we ve yet encuntered. We expect t get t the pass by midday, but d nt expect t eat lunch here. It is usually windy enugh that even taking phtgraphs can be difficult. Yu are free t stay and enjy the views f the Ice Field as lng as yu like (r can endure the wind!). Rising in the middle f the Ice Field is a range f muntains, sme f which have n names and have never had the impressin f a human ft. Yu are lking at ne f the least seen and visited places utside f the plar regins, and ne f the mst breathtakingly beautiful as well. We will traverse dwn a scree t ur campsite near Refugi Viedma (Viedma s Hut), settled in a lateral mraine f Viedma Glacier and the Ice Field. Our Camp is set up arund the Hut. We ll have a gd rest and wait fr a great dinner Full Bard Accmdatin: Duble Tents at Pas del Vient Camp Distance: 12 kms/7mi ( 8 hrs ) Elevatin Gain: 900 mts/9252 ft Day 6: 12 th Octber Pas Huemul After breakfast, we ll start a full-day trekking tward the Pas Huemul, a lnely part area f the Natinal Park arund Cerr Huemul. The camp is just ver the pass, sheltered by a beautiful Lenga frest, with grgeus views f Viedma Glacier as it meets Viedma Lake. Only five minutes frm camp, there are Cndreras (a set f cndr nests), clinging frm ledges n rck walls. If we are lucky, we will see cndrs flying ver ur heads. Full Bard Accmmdatin: Duble Tents at Pas Huemul Camp Distance: 18 kms/11mi ( 7 hrs ) Elevatin Gain: 600 mts/1968ft Day 7: 13 th Octber Lake Viedma / Return T El Chaltén We ll start ur final day, hiking dwn a steep descent t Lake Viedma and Cab de Hrns Bay. We ll be picked up by ur bat and enjy a 30 minutes sail up t Bahia Tunel. A transfer will take us back t El Chaltén, where will finish ut breahtaking experience Full Bard Accmdatin: Twin Rm at Hsteria El Puma Distance: 9 kms/5 mi ( 3 hrs )
Elevatin Gain: 50 mts/164ft Day 8: 14 th Octber Half Day Viedma Trek / El Calafate In the mrning, a transfer will pick us up frm the htel t drive us t Bahia Tunel, (Tunnel Bay) 15 km frm twn During this excursin, yu will learn the histry f the largest glacier in Argentina and its behavir ver the past 10 years, during which it has shwn a cnstant and drastic retreat. Yu will witness the nticeable ersin f the ice ver the rcks and the visible results. Yu will capture extrardinary views f the glacier frm different pints, n a jurney alng natural trails. This is such an ideal excursin t share with family and friends. Apprximately after 1-hur navigatin, during which yu will bserve large icebergs, yu will disembark n a rcky prmntry area t start trekking. The trekking n the prmntry area will allw yu t appreciate the histry f the glaciatins, the mvement f large ice blcks smthing the rcks, and t acknwledge nature as the main mdeler f the landscape that yu enjy tday. This prmntry area is a terrain rarely seen and it Is the ideal pint fr the Glacilgy talks ffered by ur guides. During this jurney, yu will apprach the glacier t bserve it frm different heights and natural viewpints, appreciating its immensity and the play f clrs. In the afternn, we will sail back t Bahia Tunel, where a transfer will be waiting fr us t take us t El Calafate, where will be arriving late in the evening, fr dinner. Viedma Trek in regular service Accmmdatin: Twin Rm at Htel El Quijte Farewell Dinner Day 9: 15 th Octber El Calafate / Departure After breakfast, an early transfer will take us t El Calafate Airprt t take ur flights t Salta. Included Muntain guide frm Day 1 t Day 9 Radi cmmunicatin with ur ffice in El Chaltén, and G.P.S. (glbal psitining System Meals accrding t itinerary. Accmmdatin Accrding t Itinerary Transfer El Calafate Airprt / El Chalten // El Calafate Airprt in private service. Grup transfer, t be prvided t participants arriving in same flight. Please ask fr private / additinal transfers, fr an extra cst. NOT Included: Nte: Persnal Equipment. (Please check the required equipment in this file). Sleeping pad / Sleeping mat. Drinks in restaurants, and extra drinks. Persnal expenses (tips, laundry, phne, etc) Any ther service nt mentined as included in this dcument. Dmestic Flights. In El Chaltén yu can rent muntain gear. Please cnfirm in advance. We recmmend fr yu t avid natural fibers like cttn r wl because nce they are wet they are difficult t dry. GETTING READY Grup Size: Minimum 4 / Maximum 12 participants Amunt f Hsted Delegates (100% FOC) in this departure: 4 Price per persn: U$D.-1890.- Methds f Payment: Credit Card (Visa r Master Card) / Wire Transfer Bking Methd: On Request, we will send a Bking Frm t be filled by Participants. Accmmdatin Prvided: Duble (Twin ) Basis, t share with a clleague f same gender. Single accmmdatin pssible nly in sme accmmdatins, please ask fr price and availability.
Packing List Weather: The weather in Patagnia is ntrius fr high winds and extreme variability. Days can range frm sunny with temperatures in the mid-60s (15 C) in Octber t rain, hail, and ccasinally even snw. Nighttime temperatures ften drp dwn int the 30s and 40s (0-5 C). The wind-chill factr can smetimes make the ambient temperature feel much clder. Please cme prepared fr all pssibilities and equipped with gd quality rain and wind gear. Luggage: Medium t large duffle r rlling sft-sided luggage Luggage lcks 60-65 L backpack Waterprf pack cver r garbage bag t line pack Dry sacs r plastic bags Clthing: Ftwear: Casual clthing/shes fr travel and city wear (lightweight, easily washable) Waterprf jacket, lightweight Waterprf pants, lightweight Fleece/sftshell jacket (windprf preferred) Dwn (r synthetic) jacket T-shirts, synthetic r wl Lng sleeve shirt, synthetic r wl Hiking pants (n jeans fr trekking) Synthetic r merin base layers Underwear/sprts bra (quick drying) Waterprf trekking bts with rugged sle Hiking scks, synthetic r wl Light shes (sneakers r water sandals) Water crssing/camp shes Assrted Persnal Items: Trekking ples (cllapsible) Sleeping Bag (15-20 F/-5-10 C) with cmpressin stuff sack Insulating mattress (cmpact, lightweight; Therm-a-Rest ideal) Water bttles (2 1-Liter r 2L hydratin bladder) Headlamp with batteries (& extra batteries) Sunscreen and Lip balm with SPF Sun hat Wl r fleece hat Neck warmer r buff Glves/mittens Sunglasses with UV filter Persnal hygiene items (tthpaste, tthbrush, quick drying travel twel,etc) Tilet Kit: Tilet paper, Ziplck bags (at least ne fr clean TP, ne fr dirty TP), wet wipes, hand sanitizer (Yu must pack ut all tilet paper.) Persnal first aid kit, medicatins, blister kit Bandana Pcket knife Camera/memry cards/battery Packing cubes/stuff sacks Gaiters Optinal: Earplugs and eye shade Binculars Water purificatin (filter r tablets) Nte: Water is ptable withut filtratin/purificatin in Suthern Patagnia. Please bring yur wn water filter/steripen r purificatin tablets if yu dn t want t drink the water untreated. Sleeping bags/pads are available fr rent in El Chaltén. Bk early fr best availability.
RESERVATION AND CANCELLATION CONDITIONS a) Reference t meterelgy: LAGUNA CONDOR MOUNTAIN HUT -It is well knwn that meterlgy in the area is unpredictable presenting its self in sme utings situatins where the weather changers in few hurs having the guide t suspend the activity when the wait in the camp f the electric Lake is f several days. -In case any activity must be cancelled r changed due t meterlgy, Fitz Ry Expeditins will prvide alternative activity within similar price / services. N Refund will be given fr excursins nt being able t perfrm due t weather cnditins. b) Reference t the physical cnditin f the participants: In the case that the physical cnditin f a participant is very lw in cmparisn with the rest f the Grup and places a threat in the success and safety f the whle expeditin, it will be the guide wh will determine if the passenger must be accmpanied by an assistant and return t El Chalten abandning the Expeditin where an alternative prgram will be prepared fr him in accrdance with the weather cnditins and aptitudes f the same. In nne f the cases will there be a refund f what has been paid fr the expeditin. Alternative services will be given as lng as it desn t incur in extra cst fr Fitz Ry Expeditins. Any extra expense is the respnsibility f the client.
PASO DEL VIENTO VIEWPOINT HUEMUL CIRCUIT
VIEWPOINT FROM PASO HUEMUL VIEDMA GLACIER