4-day Gorra Blanca ascent in El Chaltén, Argentina

We depart El Chalten in the morning, taking a vehicle transfer to Electrico River, located about 20km northwest of town. We hike for two hours through a forest landscape. Once we arrive at Pieda de Fraile campsite, we follow the Electrico River through a glacial valley. While the vegetation is sparse in this area, the views are incredible. We continue hiking, fording the Pollone River, in the direction of Marconi Pass before stopping for the night. Distance: 19km Elevation Gain: +550m Time: 8-9 hours **Note: The day prior to departing, we will conduct a mandatory gear check in El Chalten, where we will also discuss the route and answer questions.**

Following breakfast, we continue heading toward the Marconi Glacier. Once we reach the first toe of the Glacier, we can begin our ascent to Marconi Pass.  Marconi Pass marks the entryway to the famous Southern Patagonian Ice Field. We will be advancing over glacial and moraine terrain. At times, the winds we experience during this part of the climb are heavy, increasing the difficulty of the ascent. Distance: 9,5km Elevation gain: 500m Time: 6 hours

We  wake up early to push for the summit of Gorra Blanca (weather dependent).  Before sunrise, we leave our camp, climbing on snowy and icy terrain toward the summit, possibly using snow shoes or crampons. Once we arrive at the summit (2,907m), we take a few moments to celebrate before returning to our mountain hut/campsite. Distance: 22km Elevation gain/loss: +/- 1,300m Time: 9 hours

We wake up and begin our descent back down to the trailhead at Electrico River Bridge, where a vehicle transfer will take us back to El Chalten. Distance: 23km Elevation loss: -1,300m Time: 9 hours