Hiking and Climbing to the Castaño Overo Glacier

The sun was rising from behind Mount Tronador and we resolved to go on a tour around the Castaño Overo Glacier. We had spent the night at the Otto Meiling refuge, 2,000 meters above sea level, and now, facing the three peaks of the Tronador, we were ready for adventure.

Reaching the shelter had been an exploit worth describing. Our tour had started early in the morning on the previous day, when a specialized shuttle picked us up at Club Andino in order to take us down to Pampa Linda, at the base of Tronador Hill. We traveled for two hours along Route 258 up to Lake Mascardi and then took a gravel road.

After having lunch at Pampa Linda, we started our way up to the shelter. We hiked across forests and rocky areas until we reached our destination in the mid afternoon. We had been going up for four hours and a half and now we only had to wait for the new day.

In spite of the interesting tour, it had been but a means of reaching the site where the real excursion would start. Escorted by a professional AAGM guide, we would set out towards the Castaña Overa Glacier, a distinctive place that offers alternatives for all levels.

At nine o’clock in the morning, we were ready to set off: we had had a hearty breakfast and prepared all the tools with the help of our guides. We had our harnesses, gloves, helmets, long ice axes (to march) and short ice axes (to climb), rigid boots and crampons.

We walked without the crampons for 45 minutes. When it was necessary to wear them, the guides helped us put them on. It is a very strange sensation to walk with the crampons and the feet have to be raised high to take broad steps.

The access to the glacier is a matchless experience. Below, we could see Pampa Linda, above us, there raised Tronador Hill. Very soon, we could make out the seracs (moving blocks of ice), which we should avoid.

We kept going among the deep blue crevasses. The guides told us what crevasse to enter, according to the level each member of the group had. It may seem dangerous, but there is nothing to fear. The gear has been specially prepared for this kind of activity. The most experienced adventurers would descend into 90-degree slopes, while beginners would go down less steep angles.

As we went up again (another unbelievable moment), a cup of tea was waiting for us. We sat on the ice and enjoyed our beverage. Finally, and after several hours of living the ice, we started our way back to the shelter. We were tired but fascinated by our expedition.