- Mountain system: Andes
- Ridge: Patagonian Andes
- Height above sea level: 3102m
- Exceedance: 1227 m
- The first ascent: 1959 (S. Maestri and T. Egger)
Somewhere on the border of Chile and Argentina is the most famous peak of Patagonia - Cerro Torre, or Mount Sierra Torre. It attracted the views of mountaineers in the forties, but for a long time no one dared to conquer it. Ascents were made on the neighboring peaks of this mountain range - Fitzroy , Standhard, peak Egger.
History of ascents
In addition to the fact that the Sierra-Torre mountain has an icy peak more than a kilometer high, bad weather prevents the ascent. Very rarely there are favorable days, and all the rest of the time a piercing gusty wind blows - the proximity of the ocean makes itself felt.
The first to climb on Cerro Torre in 1959 was the Italian Cesare Maestri and the conductor of his Tonny Egger. It was recorded from the words of the Maestri himself, which no one could confirm, as his partner was killed while descending under a snow avalanche. Many did not believe the Italian's unsubstantiated stories. Then, in 1970, he again attempted to climb, using bolt hooks to facilitate the route, which were driven into the rock with the help of a compressor. After that, this route was dubbed "Compressor". And again the climber waited for disappointment - the whole world of mountaineering accused him of calling this way of ascent desecration and "killing the impossible".
In 1974, Pinot Negri, Casimiro Ferrari, Daniel Chappa and Mario Conti all the same conquered Mount Cerro Torre, climbing its eastern slope. And in 2005, a group of climbers again decided to climb the route "Compressor" and made sure that it was not passed until the end, because the bolts ended before the most dangerous site. In the end, and Maestri himself admitted that the conquest of the mountain was a dream of his life, which was never realized.
In 2012, young Americans Lama and Ortner climbed to the top in an honest way, and on the way back they freed the mountain from most of the twisted bolts, returning the route to its original form.
Tourist features
For ordinary travelers who do not have the skills of professional mountaineering, visiting the peak of Cerro Torre boils down to seeing the mountains from afar, beautiful photographs and trips to the foot of the mountain. Not in vain, this peak is considered one of the most difficult to conquer in the world.
How to get there?
The easiest way to get to the mountain is from the city of El Calafate . From there daily departures buses to the village of El Chalten , lying at the foot of the mountains.