Hey, I'm putting out feelers to see if anyone would be interested in a December or January trip to Chile and Argentina. I speak spanish fluently and know my way around these countries. I went to Cochamo and Frey last Christmas so I know the climbing and logistics.

Cochamo has huge potential for new lines provided you have the time and don't mind exploring and drilling while hanging on hooks.

Frey has the best spires I can think of. The climbing and weather are great, and there are so many great granite routes to impressive summits.

Food and lodging in both areas is pretty cheap, I think I spent about $400 dollars for 2.5 weeks, including buses from Santiago.

There are also a few other alpine locations around Santiago that I'm interested in.

David,

I will be in El Chalten Argentina for work for the month of november, but might be available to climb a bit in Frey after that. I've got some climbing partners already lined up, but if you wanted to get a few routes in, I'm sure I'd have time. Unfortunately, this year I don't think I'm going to have the time to make it to Cochamo. Drop me a line at my real e-mail if you like. I never check in here. jtbouknight at gmail.

regards,
James

Bump.... January is an awesome time to go to the southern summer. Long days and perfect rock...

David,
I would be interested in hearing about the logistics and getting some more information on the actual trip. You can reach me at mberry41@gmail.com.

Sounds like fun...
`matt

$400 for 2.5 weeks? thats amazing!

Not to Hijack, but how would one get from Punta Arenas to El Chalten in a day via bus. Is this possible? I haven't been having any luck dealing with or finding the right bus companies.

Ian, I'm pretty sure it'll take two days. From Punta Arenas you can get a bus to El Calafate pretty easily. Then from El Calafate to El Chalten. There's a chance that you could catch the earliest bus out of Punta Arenas and the latest one out of El Calafate, but from what I remember, this wasn't possible.

sorry to pseudo hijack the thread but have any of you guys climbed in Bolivia? i will be down there for 5 months starting in January and am wondering if i should bring a trad rack and sport rack or just a sport rack. i know there is lots of bolted stuff around La Paz (where i will be living) but i have not been able to find any info on trad in the area. any beta would be awesome

ben

Thanks Paul, that is pretty much what I was thinking. So we would stay in El Calafate and then head to El Chalten in the am. On our the return trip, is it fairly easy to get from El Chalten to Puerto Natales or Torres Del Paine in a day, or is it a 2 day deal as well. Thanks for any input. First time this far out of the country, and trying to get all the logistics down before my trip in Dec.

Ian, I'm not too sure if you could get to Torres del Paine in a day from El Chalten. There might be some buses from El Calafate to Torres del Paine, but I'm thinking it might be a little more likely that you'll need to go to Puerto Natales from El Calafate, then to Torres del Paine. So you'll probably have to spend a night in Puerto Natales, but buses leave for Torres del Paine all day long from Puerto Natales, they're pretty easy to get.

I'm still looking for a partner, I'll be free from Jan 10th onward for as long as you can take off. Here are some pictures from my trip last year so you can see how great these places are.

Cochamo:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025072&id=37900567&l=>>>>>
Frey:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025074&id=37900567&l=>>>>>

To do much in cochamo you have to be a pretty good climber since the easiest climbs have 5.11 pitches. And you have to climb 5.10 quickly. It is a cool place though.

Frey has better weather, better approach, free camping, and great climbing with plenty of 5.8, 5.9, 5.10 and 5.11 multipitch climbs up towers.

David or anyone else looking for partners.
I will be in Bariloche from Jan. 23 until Jan. 31 with a double rack and maybe a rope or two, keen to climb whatever in Frey.
Mike
mjy415@gmail.com

Also will be solo in Frey from Feb. 20 til March 8. Got the gear, know the area, also would be up for checking Cochamo out.