Ski Mountaineering in Argentina
Skiing at 4000m in the Quebrada Matienzo, near Aconcagua, Argentina, October 2009. In three weeks of skiing in 2009 we had 95% blue skies and no rain or storms. Just red wine, very skiable spring snow and lots of sunshine!
From north to south there are several good ski mountaineering areas in Argentina
Are you a bit 'fed up' with skiing on crowded pistes? Then have a look at the Piste-Off.com website for inspiration. Ski mountaineering, ski touring and off-beat ski resorts around the world.
The Andes have some great ski touring and mountaineering terrain, with everything from accessible day trips near downhill resorts to committing expedition skiing on the Patagonian ice-caps. In between are some very quiet and scenic mountain areas with excellent ski-mountaineering and ski-touring terrain. This page concentrates on the peaks and tours accessible form Argentina. See our Chile Ski Mountaineering page for details of areas accessible from Chile.
For more details of what we are currently offering please see our main Expeditions and Holidays page.
There is a short chapter on ski-mountaineering and many suitable ascents are also described and pictured in the guidebook written by John Biggar - The Andes, A Guide for Climbers.
Puna & Agua Negra
Snow conditions aren't at their best (or at least their most reliable) as you head north in Argentina, but the skiing can be good, particularly if you get lucky with a recent dump of snow, and the dunes around Fiambala make for some great sandboarding!
The 6795m high Nevado Pissis is probably the most reliable peak in the Puna for a ski descent. With a base camp at 4600m, and the lowest part of the northeast glacier at just 5400m, it should not be too long a carry, less if you get lucky with a recent snowfall.
Of course, if it is too hot and not snowy enough to ski you can always take up sandboarding... good fun and you don't get cold hands.!
Skiing at over 4500m at the Paso del Agua Negra in October 2009... the peaks in the background are over 6000m high. Skiing was a bit thin by the road here, but we set off on a good short tour up a small glacier just the next day. This road could give good access to some nice high-altitude skiing terrain earlier in the winter.
Mendoza Area
In the north there is some great ski-touring around Mendoza, at heights of 2500-4000m, all accessible within a two or three hour drive of Mendoza city, with relaxing hotels, great food and wine and usually pretty warm in the ski season.!
Skiing down the closed off pistes at Vallecitos, by mid-October there wasn't so much snow left in the Cordon del Plata, but it had been a lean year.
Skiing at 4000m in the Quebrada Matienzo, near Aconcagua, Argentina, October 2009.
Heading in to the mountains and the Quebrada Matienzo. The big peak is the 4900m high Matienzo, we skied from the smaller peak on the ridge running towards the camera (c. 4200m).
Las Leņas & Sosneado Area
Near the ski resort of Las Leņas is some very accessible and normally great ski touring, at altitudes of up to 4000m. Recommended are tours to El Soldado and Cerro Deshecho, also the peaks of La Horqueta and Las Hoyadas near Los Molles. the next valley north is the very remote Atuel river, there are one or two good tours up here as well and it is worth visiting just for the remote and idyllic scenery.
Skinning up towards the rock pinnacle of El Soldado, above Las Leņas, on a hot afternoon in late September.... and below, climbing in the early morning past Volcan Sosneado, the most southerly 5000m peak in the Andes.
Chris skiing down from the Mirador del Sosneado.
Big smiles after what was our best (and fastest) descent, just a ten minute walk back to the mountain hut for a brew now.!
Domuyo Area
Often labelled as the highest peak in Patagonia Volcan Domuyo lies entirely in Argentina north of the town of Chos Malal. There are some large and steep glaciers on the mountains south and eastern side. it makes a good ski objective on its own, taking 3 or 4 days to climb and descend, and there are several other good peaks in the area.
Volcan Domuyo from the southwest in winter. The route is more or less up the right hand side of the photo.
Skiing down from the summit of Domuyo, October 2006. Our high camp was in almost the exact centre of the picture.
Bariloche & the Andean Lake District
Skiing Volcan Lanin, Chile-Argentina border, September 2007.
Patagonian Ice-caps
The Patagonian ice-caps provide some superb skiing terrain, though the weather is not always this good. We ran our first trip there in January 2000 and go back every few years. The picture below was taken on a ski ascent of Volcan Lautaro 3380m, a remote volcano in the centre of the ice-cap. Our latest scheduled expedition to the ice-cap ran in November 2011. For more information on this expedition or to see more photos of the Patagonian Ice-cap please go to our Patagonian Ice-cap page
Climbing Volcan Lautaro on the South Patagonian ice-cap.
Pictured below dragging sledges towards San Valentin, the highest mountain in Patagonia, located on the eastern fringes of the Hielo Patagoina Norte.
A beautiful and tranquil sunset at the Paso Marconi camp, South Patagonian ice-cap........... ........and digging out the tents in a blizzard 36 hours later
"Andes" scheduled Ski Holidays and Ski-mountaineering Expeditions
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