Southern Ice Field Expedition, Patagonia

Meeting with the Guide; debrief about the details of the program and final check of the gear.

Transfer to Río Eléctrico and start the trekking. It takes 2 hours to get to “Piedra del Fraile” Campsite or 5 hours to “La Playita” Camp, at the foot of the Marconi Glacier. “Piedra del Fraile” is a private campsite with services, at the edge of the forest. After getting there, the terrain is open and rockery until the next campsite (La Playita). Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner.

Trek to “Paso Marconi” (1550 m/a/s/l); 6 to 10 hours. This is the crux of the trip; it’s needed a reasonable good day to reach the pass. Weather allowing, there are excellent views of Fitz Roy, Piergiorgio and Gorra Blanca, among others. Once over the Pass, the wind is not against us anymore, it will be on our backs for the rest of the way. Camp on the Ice Cap or at the Gorra Blanca refuge. Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner.

Trek to “Circo de Los Altares”. This is a short day (about 6 hours) with the possibility to approach the west face of Cerro Torre and its satellites. This is one of the most impressive views of Los Glaciares National Park. Camp on the Ice Cap. Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner.

Trek to “Laguna Ferrari” or “Paso del Viento” refuge. After about 4 hours hiking south from the Circo, we will get out of the glacier and hike 2 to 3 hours more trough moraines and rockery terrain. Camp at Laguna Ferrari or Paso del Viento refuge. Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner.

Trek over “Paso del Viento”(1500 m/a/s/l) and then down the Tunnel valley to get to Laguna Toro and camp at the forest, about 6 to 7 hours. There are excellent views of the Mariano Moreno Range and Viedma Glacier. The terrain is rockery again and we will pass some small glaciers as well. There is a river crossing near Laguna Toro, through a tyrolean traverse. Camp at “Laguna Toro”. Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner.
*Paso Huemul Option: An alternative is to continue this day to “Paso Huemul”, in order to arrive the following day to “Bahía Túnel” (“Boat transfer is optional from Bahía Cabo de Hornos”).

Back up day in case of bad weather conditions or rest day. Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner.

Trek back to El Chaltén through a trail, over the Pliegue Tumbado, it will take about 5 to 6 hours. Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch.