Southern Ice Field Expedition

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL TO EL CHALTÉN 

On this day, you will arrive at El Chaltén and stay at your hotel. 

In the evening, we will meet with our guide and the rest of the expedition staff. During this briefing, the guide will explain the technical characteristics of the program and introduce us to the magical Southern Ice Field. There will also be a revision of the personal equipment of each passenger and the common loads that each person will have to transport along the itinerary, including the food provided by WhiteFox Adventures.

The arrival to El Chaltén on this day must be early (during the morning) to have enough time in the evening in case it is necessary to rent or buy equipment.

Welcoming day
Meals: Not included

DAY 2 – EL CHALTÉN – LA PLAYITA CAMP

After we meet the guide at the hotel, private transportation will pick us up to take us to the bridge of the Río Eléctrico (15 km northeast of El Chaltén), our expedition’s departure point.

We will start trekking to the base of the Glaciar Marconi. The first two hours of the trekking follow the Río Eléctrico upstream through a thick forest of Ñire and Lenga trees up to Piedra del Fraile Camp. Crossing the camp, we will enter a vast glacier valley that will open before us to let us see the Cerros Treinta Aniversario, Marconi Norte and Marconi Sur.

From Piedra del Fraile, we will walk along the southern edge of the Lago Eléctrico, and in less than two hours, we will ford the Río Pollone. From here, we can see the northeast face of the Monte Fitz Roy.

We will walk one more hour to the west margin of the Lago Eléctrico, where we will set up our tents in La Playita Camp, which is only 30 minutes away from Glaciar Marconi.

6-7 hrs. trek
Meals: Box Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 – LA PLAYITA CAMP – PASO MARCONI CAMP

We will wake up at first light for breakfast, pick up camp, and begin the hiking day. A 30-minute walk will lead us to the moraine of the Glaciar Marconi, where the land is unstable and the path disappears. Once we cross that stretch, we will get on the glacier to gradually ascend the 800 meters of elevation gain that separates us from Paso Marconi. From there, we will have a panoramic view of the surrounding mountain range and the immense continental ice cap field. 

We will set our camp at the foothills of Cerro Marconi Sur. The almost aerial position of the campsite will allow us to see the sunset and the sunrise on the walls of the Fitz Roy, the Super Canaleta, and the Pier Giorgio and Gorra Blanca mountains. 

Crampons and cords will be used to overcome the cracks or compact steep ice hills, depending on the ice conditions. The Glaciar Marconi creates a funnel effect for the winds from the Southern Ice Field and the Pacific Ocean. At this point, expedition members can experience an added physical and mental challenge due to the gusts of wind and hail that can pick up in this area.

8-9 hrs. trek
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 – PASO MARCONI CAMP – CIRCO DE LOS ALTARES

Early after breakfast, we will start walking. Our guide and assistant will carry most of the general load (tents, food, gas, and others) in sledges. 

During the day, we will walk over the Southern Ice Field, which will be the magnificent setting of our journey. We will revel in the sights of the Volcán Lautaro (still active), the Mariano Moreno Mountain Range (almost as high and much more extensive than the Fitz Roy), the Cuatro Glaciares pass and the Glaciar Chico. We will have to use snowshoes if necessary.

By evening, we will arrive at Circo de los Altares, at the foot of the legendary South Face of the Cerro Torre, where we will set up our camp.

7-8 hrs. trek
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 – CIRCO DE LOS ALTARES – LAGUNA DE LOS ESQUÍES

During the morning, we will walk to Laguna de los Esquíes over the lateral moraine of the Glaciar Viedma, which is going to be the place from which we are going to abandon the Southern Ice Field (formally Glaciar Viedma in this place).

If the weather and physical conditions allow it, we will continue to the Paso Del Viento shelter to spend the night.

8-9 hrs. trek
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6 – LAGUNA DE LOS ESQUÍES – PASO DEL VIENTO – LAGUNA TORO

After a great breakfast, we will start trekking to Paso del Viento, where we will rest to contemplate the magnificent landscape. 

From there, we will descend the 800-meter elevation gain to the Laguna Túnel Superior through a glacier and altitude rocky ground. Depending on the conditions, we will cross the Rio Túnel through a zip line and border the Laguna Toro. Very near to it, we will spend our last camping night at the Laguna Toro camp.

6-7 hrs. trek
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 – LAGUNA TORO – EL CHALTÉN

We will start walking with the Río Túnel to our right, following the path that will take us back to El Chaltén and enjoying the last sights of the Torre and Fitz Roy mountains. End of the services.

6-7 hrs. trek
Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch

DAY 8 – CONTINGENCY DAY (REST OR WEATHER)

In case of adverse weather conditions, we will use this day to prevent us from progressing in the critical steps of our journey. In any other case, we will use it to spend an extra day in Circo de los Altares, to rest or to camp again in any of the other spots of our program. The guide will decide this considering weather conditions and the passengers’ physical condition.

Rest day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ITINERARY DISCLAIMER

While it is our intention to adhere to the route itinerary described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary can be modifying due to weather conditions or others unpredictable factor of the mountain regions.