C ° SNOWY, SNOWY SAW
SAW THE SNOW
Snow Hill - 3,829 m - Mendoza
By Jaime Suárez
The aim
The peak of Cerro Nevado, is located in the Sierra del Nevado, separated from the central cordillera of the Andes, finding more than 170 miles from the border with Chile. Is the boundary point between the departments of San Rafael and Malargue, Mendoza.
Not only had seen the imposing presence of the Sierra del Having seen snow fall from the top of Payún Smooth, but also in many cases looked the secluded path profile from San Rafael to General Alvear and traveling to Las Lenas or Malargüe. Always standing out among all the surrounding contour. Imposes a manifest presence. It's the kind of mountain to climb it look one wants. And like all iconic mountain has its legends and even the death of a beloved mountaineer looking forward crowned crests. This solitary mole has multiple cones around 2,000 meters altitude in a volcanic swarm manifested in its fullness, some 100 km further south, in the Payunia. The expedition
Departing from Mendoza, with the defection of some components, at 10 am, traveling Route 40 until it connects with the 144, and our goal in sight, we continued on the 180 road until The Nihuil. Thereafter, and on a gravel road in the 180 we travel about 66 miles and arrived at the entrance to San Carlos Since (S35 O68 36,199 40,252, 1,949 m). At that point a trail would bring us closer to our mountain. A little later salute Don Maya who is in charge of San Carlos and continue as the trail up to the Toscalito Since, by Don Juan Rojas (S35 O68 37,711 31,826, 2,405 m.) These positions base their economy in the breeding of goats and some cattle, and make cheese. Since the post route had taken about 14 km was nearly 17 hours.
ask permission to enter the mountain area with pleasant surprise, after a friendly chat, we learned that there was a zigzag path, which reached the area of \u200b\u200bantennas on the 3,400 meters. In an old and dumb cartel could try reading: CONSTRUCTION. ACCESS THE SNOWY ° C, PROJ. PROV. Road. We decided to continue down the path to a better height and establish the base camp. Don Rojas arrange for us to prepare the next day a goat roast, the return of the summit. Mountaineer friend, I suggest you do the same.
Base camp continued on his way up to the height of 2,700 m. On one side of a sharp bend of the trail sections a few feet of it and enjoying the view of the glossy surface Llancanelo Lagoon, which stretches over 1,334 meters high, we set up our camp.
Base Camp, on arrival at 2,713 m Nevado
Our position was S35 O68 36,493 31,625, 2,713 m. We were about 55 km away and more than 1,300 meters above the lake Llancanelo. The distance to the summit was of 4.5 km and we began to worry about dark clouds that are piled on our heads. At dusk we could only determine, to the west, the lights of the city of Malargue, unfortunately no stars shining in the night sky. Approach
We left at 9 am, with all the load on the vehicle, trying to achieve best height and approach to address the summit. Destruction prior to puncture a tire and placement of one of the parts, we get to the point where the truck would, O68 35,432 30,010 S35, 3,323 m. Was sufficient, although it could have continued a little longer. Carlos, by indisposition, would be in the van. We left fifteen minutes past ten. The vehicle remained in the 3,323 meters in height
overcome the gap to the top was a little over 500 m. We put the polar, gloves and windbreaker in your backpack, along with food and water up and resolutely face the climb. We separated about 700 meters distance from the area of \u200b\u200bantennas. The beginning was easy enough to reach the antennas, where we arrived at 11.20 hours while a closed cloud began to surround us. Obviously, the traces had been drilled into the mountain to access the repeater and antenna maintenance groups. But there it ended. O68 35,079 29,925 S35, 3,589 m From here the cloud allowed only guess a rising incipient ridges happen.
With all her coat and wrapped in the thick cloud prevented us forward with confidence and admire the scenery, we went looking at the set point of top of the GPS. Subtracted away 950 meters and 240 meters.
At 12 hours, and passed the midway at the position ASC1 O68 S35 34,926 29,613, 3,714 m. we stopped to rest a few minutes while we whipping a strong and fine blizzard. Hoping to continue the ascent to overcome the cloud, stopping again at 12.30 pm in ASC O68 2 S35 34,887 29,487, 3,774 m. It was only about 50 meters to the summit.
already very near the summit ...
redouble efforts despite the cold and escarchilla that cover the rocks and accumulated in our faces and clothes and continue resolutely. Minutes later at 12.50 hours we had completed the last ridge and we were in the top of the hill. You could not go further. We look for the small sector's highest level. The cross on top was dumped among the stones ridge. Put in place the best possible accuracy.
The summit cross, we should re-install and secure with stones
position O68 29,407 34,834 S35, GPS and marked 3,829 m. We were on top of our goal. Thought the imagined landscape seen from the summit of our mountain could not behold, even the antennas that are grouped around 900 meters away. Practically we met us. We took the obligatory pictures and disdain take some food to the mouth and look for a summit book as a fine hail raged. Descent
complicated and return to summit began with Marcela
descent, past 13 hours, immersed in the blizzard and very little visibility. We look at the sense in which we agreed to the summit and were descending slowly crossing avoiding peaks and delicate steps which had to be extreme care in wet and snowy rock. Not seen practically nothing. Consulting the GPS, 180 meters below the summit, we see that we descending the south side, opposite to the WP for promotion. In the first instance did not believe it until we distrust the GPS. Walk, still not convinced, a few meters following the beat and we actually falling away from the initial route. We had to return to the summit, despite the weather. On the face of the land was impossible to cut a path known WP. At 15.50 hours, two hours after the start of fall, unwittingly for the second time coronábamos Nevado. Enigmatically, at the time, and with no visibility, the trend was back to where we did go down. But throw the ASC WP 2 and ends at the maximum the tendency of the sense of location. Twenty meters after the cross, a simple edge to ridge that runs north-south and measures 30 meters, drifted either way. That was the key. It was impossible to appreciate in thunderstorms.
Just Google it was determined by analyzing the facility to be confused, to come back, especially with thunderstorms.
Just arrived at WP ASC2 began to feel safer, despite being immersed in the cloud and see a few meters ahead. We decline to reach the next WP and antennas. Soon appeared the track and more visibility. It was the 17 hours and we could see, two hundred and fifty feet below, our van. Shake the frost from our clothes and fifty minutes later, with Carlos, we were starting the vehicle.
returned to the post and while Don Rojas began to roast the goat, we set up our camp next to his house. At 20 hours, sitting at the table, he kneeled upon his teeth into the lamb roast, which accompanied with a bottle of malbec. We just had our breakfast on stomach and hungry. Needless to say it was a culinary delicacy.
The shepherd Juan Rojas cutting the roast goat
The ensuing conversation with the people of the post, after lunch, dinner and listen to stories and events of this beautiful and isolated mountains was the prelude to the short break we decided to deal with the same fanaticism that used to reach the two day summit . One of the eight dogs in the post, and I'm not sure that kind of decision the canine group, sat in a circle next to the access to the tent. In the middle of the night began to fall very fine hail that covered the animal, who meekly did not leave his post. During the night an animal that came up, led a hoarse bark, and the morning when stallholders accommodated the steel drums to collect water flowing the roof, even dared to bark. Logically earned a good breakfast.
already imposed a return to having completed the climb to the Snowy. We take leave of this hospitable people and face the return. Jaime Suárez
December 2009
WP Stroke of contour map Snow Hill 3829 m - SAW THE SNOW - MENDOZA
Datum, WGS 84
A Rank S CAR. S35, 36,100, O68, 40,252, 1949 Flashpoint m
Rojas S35, 37,711, O68, 31,826, 2405 m
CPTO Base S35, 36,493, O68, 31,625, 2713 m
Truck S35, 35,432, O68, 30,011, 3323 m
Antennas S35, 35,080, O68, 29,925, 3589 m
ASC 1 S35, 34,926, O68, 29,613, 3714 m 2
ASC S35, 34,888, O68, 29,488, 3774 m SNOW
C ° S35, 34,834, O68, 29,407, 3829 m
SHEET RISE
achieved Summit: Main
summit of the Sierra del Nevado. Position S 35 ° 34'834 68 ° 29'407 and O. Altitude
Figure on some maps of Mendoza at 3,810 m above sea level. GPS estimated 3,829 m summit Route
southwest
On the practical side.
Members of the expedition: Marcela
Cicchelli, Carlos Gomez, Jaime Suarez.
location south of Mendoza, about 100 kilometers East of Malargue. In the same vein, between the two points is Llancanelo Lagoon. To the Northeast, and nearly 100 km from the beautiful city of General Alvear. To the north, the reservoir of the Nihuil is 60 kilometers.
best time of climb:
Practically all year with greater care in winter when snowfall can isolate the area.
Difficulty Easy, except for the last 240 meters of altitude, from the area of \u200b\u200bthe antennas to the main summit of the mountain, about 1 km away. There are steps that require care, especially during storms and snow. The return from the summit, in extreme situations, requires caution.
Team Shop. High mountain shelter. Windbreaker, jacket or jacket and sleeping bag high. Gloves and mittens, shoes, as though not much up to this mountain, you can get cold. Canes, hats, UV sunglasses, GPS. Bring water, there is in the area. Access
Since Mendoza is accessible by Route 40, through May 25 and splicing Route 180 to the reservoir Nihuil. From Villa El Nihuil, by the same route, with consolidated road and after about 66 kilometers you reach the access point Since San Carlos. Details are explained in the story. Coming from General Alvear, find L84 road conditions or continue on to San Rafael and make access to the 40.
Jaime Smith
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