Guided splitboarding week tour in El Chalten

Join IFMGA-certified mountain guide Merlín on a fascinating 7-day splitboarding trip around El Chalten, in the Andes Range, in the stunning Argentine Patagonia.

Andes

7 Days

Aug, Sep

High

Intermediate

Description

El Chalten (400m) is a small alpine village located in the province of Santa Cruz, in Argentina’s southern Patagonia region. It lays within the Los Glaciares National Park (7,269.27km2), the largest natural reserve in the country. Surrounded by scenic peaks in the southern Andes (6,961m), magnificent glaciers, glacial lakes, and virgin forests, El Chalten is considered to be Argentina’s Trekking Capital.

The village’s backcountry area features great off-piste terrain, in contact with wild nature, far away from the crowds. During our one-week tour, we will ride across several mountains, such as Cerro Vespigniani (2,146m), Cerro Madsen (1,806m), and Loma del Diablo (1,800m). Along the way, we will enjoy breathtaking views to the famous Cerro Torre (3,128m) and Fitz Roy (3,405m) peaks, as well as to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field (12,363 km2), the world’s second largest contiguous non-polar ice field. The exact itinerary will be adjusted according to the snow and weather conditions, as well as to travelers’ preferences.

We will stay 4 nights in a comfortable hostel in El Chalten and the remaining 2 nights at the Poincenot campsite (750m).

I will take a maximum of 4 people on this trip. Participants must be in good shape and have prior splitboarding experience. They also need to take their own personal equipment, including regular and splitboarding crampons.

Explore El Chalten’s picturesque surroundings in this splitboarding week. Book your trip now!

In case you are interested, I also offer a ski touring version of this program. If you are looking for other winter activities in El Chalten, I recommend the ascent to Gorra Blanca and the ski tour day in De Los Tres Glacier. If you are considering other splitboarding experiences in the Argentine Patagonia, check out the 6-day adventure in Bariloche.

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Transport during the trip
Transportation start and back

Itinerary

Day 1: El Chalten

Flight to the city of El Calafate’s airport (Santa Cruz) and transfer to El Chalten, around 220km away, where we will meet. Preparatory meeting to review equipment and itinerary. Lodging in El Chalten.

Day 2: Loma del Diablo

Transfer to the Mosquito River. Riding day in Loma del Diablo (1,800m). Vertical drop: 1,200m. Overnight in El Chalten.

Day 3: Cerro Vespigniani

Transfer to Lago del Desierto (506m). Splitboarding in Cerro Vespignani (2,146m). Vertical drop: 1,500m. Lodging in El Chalten.

Day 4: Fitz Roy base camp

Approach to the Fitz Roy base camp. Optional afternoon splitboarding in De Los Tres Glacier (0,83km2). Overnight at Poincenot campsite (750m).

Day 5: Cerro Madsen

Splitboarding in Cerro Madsen (1,806m). Vertical Gain: 1,000m. Overnight at Poincenot campsite (750m).

Day 6: Back at El Chalten

Return to El Chalten, where we will spend the last night.

Day 7: Farewell

Transfer to El Calafate airport. End of the program.

Details

More info

You will need to bring: • Splitboarding gear (splitboard, boots, bindings, skins, poles, crampons) • Safety equipment (shovel, beacon, and probe*) • Trekking shoes and gaiters • Waterproof pants and jacket (Gore-Tex) • Down or synthetic hooded jacket • Merino wool or synthetic base layers • Polar 100 and wind stopper • 2 pairs of gloves • Warm hat and buff • Extra socks • Sleeping bag and mattress* • 30-60-litres backpacks • Water bottle and small thermo flask • Headlamp • Sunglasses and goggles • Sunscreen and lip balm Items marked * can be rented at El Chalten

Meeting point

El Chalten village, province of Santa Cruz, Argentina

About the guide

Merlín

5.0

(89)

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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What people are saying about Merlín

Nicole

Merlin is the best guide out there. I highly recommend anyone to book with him. Super helpful and fun. We enjoyed our 2 day rock climbing adventure with him.

After a few headaches in the beginning (the national park had been closed, but has recently been opened again), we had a great experience and a wonderful tour with Merlin and Mountaineering Patagonia! Merlin offered us great flexibility and patience and a week later the perfect weather arrived for our mountain adventure.

We had an amazing ski trip in Patagonia! Merlin and Martin are exceptional ski guides and we got to ski a lot more terrain than if we had gone on our own. They did a great job adapting our trip plan to the ever changing Patagonia weather. Would highly recommend to anyone considering an adventurous ski trip in Patagonia

Looking for a new backcountry ski adventure to a wild and remote place? Want the comfort of a sailboat to return to every day? Ski first descents? Experience the beauty of massive glaciers, fjords and mountains as far as the eye can see? Check, check, check and check. This was my second trip with Merlin and Patagonia Mountaineering and won't be my last. This trip delivered everything that an expedition can deliver while all the time under the careful guidance of Merlin and Sebastian.

Great experience with Mountaineering Patagonia for a ski touring hut trip of Frey and Jakob huts out of Bariloche, Argentina. I booked with guide and operator Merlin and went on the tour with guide Lucas and we joined forces with another small guided group. I would hope to ski out of Chalten and would definitely use Mountaineering Patagonia again.