Climbing Cerro Solo, El Chaltén

Few people choose the ascent of the Cerro Solo during their stay at El Chaltén. It is a great alternative if you have few days, want to do a moderate technical expedition and have good luck with the weather. It's emanding because you climb 1300 m in one day. Technical because the top is a glacier with slopes of 50° and the bottom has a lot of moving rocks.

If you plan this ascent, be flexible because of common bad weather. You could need to wait in El Chaltén some days before the start or need to do another expedition if you have no time to lose.

El Chaltén is one of the key spots for trekking in South America. It is a place where it is worth spending some time to immerse yourself in the End-of-the-world/trekking/hippie atmosphere.

Cerro Solo is the most popular moderate mountaineering objective in the area, and it is better to have prior knowledge of roped glacier walking beforehand.

I propose the following program.

Day 1

Starting from El Chalten. The first part of the trek is the popular trail to Laguna Torre. Fitz Roy river viewpoint is the first break during the first day. We can also have a break at the end to enjoy the view on the Solo. The viewpoint of Cerro Torre is the second stop during the first day. If the weather is good, there is a nice view on Cerro Solo and Cerro Torre.

We will reach Laguna Torre, where there is a tyrolean on the river. The adventure starts here! There is a fixed rope in order to cross the river. You will need the equipment to make your own tyrolean.

We camp in a lenga forest at the bottom of the Cerro Solo. Close to a river to have drinkable water and in the forest to be protected from the wind.

Day 2

From the forest to the glacier, it is full of rolling stones. We will use helmets. It is recommended to use a rope in some parts. Reaching the glacier, there are seracs and crevasses. We will use a rope and all the required glacier equipment. From here we start to have great views on the Fitz Roy. Then we continue along the cliff that drives to the summit. We follow the bottom of the cliff and then along a serac that cuts the glacier in two.

The first section is very inclined, about 50°. We have to be very precise with our crampons and picks, above all during the descent. The second part is more flat. This is the last section until the summit! The summit of Cerro Solo is 2100 m above sea level. There are unique views on the Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Viedma glacier, El Chaltén, Laguna del Desierto, Viedma lake and many other famous spots of the region. We go down the same day to the camp.

Day 3

We hike out and back to El Chaltén (4 hours hike).

Depending on weather and mountain conditions, and previous experience and fitness level of the participants, it might be possible to do the trip in 2 days, going all the way back to El Chalten on day 2, after summiting Cerro Solo.

Does this adventure to climb Cerro Solo in El Chaltén sound tempting? Then please contact me, I would love being your guide in this area!