Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Exploring the Northern Sector
The northern sector of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is
dominated by the awe-inspiring peaks of Mount Fitz Roy.
Since the 1930s, climbers have attempted to conquer
the 11,168-ft (3,402-m) Mount Fitz Roy and the 10,280-ft
(3,133-m) Cerro Torre. They are considered two of the world's
most technically challenging mountains as their summits are
formed by “mushrooms” of snow and ice that are in constant
danger of collapse. More recently, avid hikers have also
flocked to the area, converting the tiny settlement of
El Chaltén into Argentina's trekking mecca.
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Sendero Laguna de
los Tres
Laguna de los Tres is a glacial
tarn that sits at the base of
Mount Fitz Roy. The trail to its
shores is arguably the most
scenic in the park. The outward
trek from El Chaltén takes
around 5 hours, making a return
hike just about possible in a day.
Otherwise, it is best to plan for
two days and set up camp.
The trail's first section, an easy
3.5-hour hike to
Río Blanco
,
traverses a landscape of ancient
woodland, marshy wetlands,
and crystal-clear lagoons. Visitors
must note that camping here is
permitted only for climbers who
have made arrangements at the
park office. Midway to Río
Blanco, and a 10-minute detour
from the main trail, is
Laguna
Capri
, a secluded lake with
fantastic vistas of the Fitz Roy
range. Basic campsites for
visitors are located here and at
Campo Poincenot
, 2 miles
(3 km) away.
Río Blanco marks the trail's
final section to Laguna de los
Tres, named in honor of the trio
of French climbers, René Ferlet,
Guido Magnone, and Lionel
Terray, who became the first to
scale Mount Fitz Roy in 1952.
A medium-level trek, it ascends
an incline that gets progressively
steeper, rising 1,312 ft (400 m)
in a mile (2 km). Views from
the lake are magnificent, with
towering Mount Fitz Roy rising
above the lake and the
Glaciar
de los Tres
spilling downwards
towards its far shore.
}
Sendero Laguna
Torre
This low-difficulty, 6-mile
(10-km) hike can be done
in one day from El Chaltén.
Hikers should note that the
return journey takes about
7 hours. The trail follows
the Río Fitz Roy valley and
climbs through lush
lenga
and
ñire
forests, finally
ending at Laguna Torre, a
hidden emerald lake that
sits at the foot of the
magni ficent Cerro Torre.
Breathtaking views from the
lake encompass the mountain,
its sister peaks, Egger at 9,514 ft
(2,897 m) and Standhart at
9,186 ft (2,798 m), and the
sweeping
Glaciar Torre
.
Ice-trekking excursions on
Glaciar Torre can be arranged in
El Chaltén. Hikers can choose
between the single- and two-
day options; the latter involves
a night's stay at the basic yet
comfort able Thorwood base
camp, with simple facilities, close
to the beautiful Laguna Torre.
Campsite on a sunny hillside
Centro de Visitantes
Guardaparque Pedro Fonzo
Ruta 23, before entering El Chaltén.
Te l
(02962) 493-004.
Open
10am-5pm daily.
Visitors planning to go for treks
in the national park should first
register at this office. It is
conveniently located at the
entrance to El Chaltén. The staff
are friendly, helpful, and able to
give advice on difficult trails and
expected weather conditions.
Climbing permits can also be
purchased here.
The spectacular Laguna de los Tres at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy
For hotels and restaurants see pp278-83 and pp288-99
