2-day Cerro Madsen ski tour, El Chaltén

This 2-day Cerro Madsen Ski tour is a trip meant for experienced skiers looking for new adventures. Merlín, IFMGA certified guide, will lead you up safely!

Andes

2 Days

Jul - Sep

High

Advanced

Description

Cerro Madsen Ski tour is a design trip for expert skiers looking for an adrenaline run in a mystical background!

This Cerro Madsen Ski tour will require good physical conditions as well as a lot of ski touring experience. But the adventure is unforgettable! From the start of the trip, at El Chaltén, you'll go through two days of emotions and new feelings, while the scenery will conquer your heart!

Cerro Madsen lies to the east of De Los Tres Lagoon. So in summer it's one of the busiest places to visit in El Chaltén. But in winter all of this changes. The path is quiet, the forest shapes change and the slopes are painted white by the snow.

But there's something else special about the Madsen. Because of its location, the summit has a unique view of the Cerro Fitz Roy and Piedras Blancas Glacier. Therefore this is a must do skiing tour if you come all the way south to El Chaltén in winter!

This 2-day program will start and finish at El Chaltén. We'll drive up through the Valle de las Vueltas to El Pilar farm, where the easiest and closest path starts. We'll first hike to Poincenot Camp, where we'll leave the camping gear. Then we'll head up to Laguna de los Tres and gear up to ski upon the east face of Cerro Madsen. Once on the top, and after a deserved break to enjoy the scenery, we'll enjoy an amazing ski descent and hike back to Poincenot Camp.

The next day, after a good breakfast, we'll return to Laguna de los Tres. From there we'll put our skins and go across the frozen lagoon. Then we'll continue up the glacier to reach the saddle between Punta Velluda and Cerro Madsen. From up there we'll enjoy another great view and ski down to Río Blanco. We'll pick the camping gear from Poincenot and head back to El Pilar, from where we'll drive back to El Chaltén.

So if you feel you're up to the task, contact me and I'll take you on an unbelievable journey!

And if you're thinking about skiing somewhere else in Patagonia you can also check my other trips: 6-day ski tour Bariloche and 8-day ski tour Chile.

Price includes

Guiding fee
Transport during the trip

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1

We will depart early in the morning to El Pilar (15 km). Once there, we will head up to Poincenot Camp, were we’ll leave the camping equipment. We’ll continue to Río Blanco valley, and start the steep ascent to Laguna de los Tres.
From there on, we will go up with the skis on the East face of Cerro Madsen for another 600m of elevation gain. Then we’ll ski down and hike back to Poincenot Camp.
Aproximate time: 10h – Elevation Gain: 1300m.

Day 2: Day 2

After a good breakfast we’ll return to Laguna de los Tres. From there, we’ll go across the frozen lagoon with the skis, in order to continue our way up the glacier until the saddle between Punta Velluda and Cerro Madsen.
Then We’ll ski down to Río Blanco. After the ski descent, we will pick up the camping equipment at Poincenot and head back to El Pilar. Drive to El Chaltén.
Aproximate time: 10h – Elevation Gain: 1000m.

Details

More info

Included: Technical equipment: crampons, harness, rope, etc.

Not included: Personal Equipment and lunch box.

I will have a VHF Radio or Sat Phone and a First-aid kit.

Recommended equipment: • 30-40 lts daypack • Water bottle & thermo 1l • Lunch box • Synthetic or merino base layers • 2 fleeces (100-200) • Hooded puff jacket • 2 pairs of gloves • Buff & warm hat • Waterproof pants & jacket • Sunglasses & googles • Sunbloc & lip protection • Trekking shoes • Gaiters • Headlamp • Ski touring boots • Ski touring skis & skins • Ski poles • Beacon-shovel-probe

Meeting point

El Chaltén.

About the guide

Merlín

5.0

(88)

Mountain Guide

Certified UIAGM-IFMGA Mountain Guide from Argentina.

I live in El Chaltén since 1998. I'm originally from Bariloche and I started with mountain activities when I was 15 years old. I've done climbing and ascents in many mountains of Patagonia, Perú, Bolivia, United States and Europe; such as Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Alpamayo, El Capitán, Mont Blanc and Aconcagua among others. I'm also a Ski Instructor and I am passionate for backcountry ski.

I speak fluent English, Italian and French and have been leading trips and expeditions for more than 20 years. I work together with a group of guides, so if I'm not available for the trip you request, one of my colleagues will guide you!

Certificates

AAGM | UIAGM

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