Rock Climbing and Rappelling at La Palestra

Just 5 km away from Esquel dowtown, a natural 30-meter-high wall is the perfect place for rock climbing and rappelling. It is called La Palestra.

This rock formation of glacier origin lies inside the Esquel Regiment territory. It is fully equipped and provides all the necessary safety measures (including parabolts and spits in very good condition). A few years ago, it would be used by soldiers, as this is a mountain regiment zone. Afterwards, it passed onto the cavalry and finally was left for civil use. However, it is necessary to sign in at the regiment’s guard.

As we were reaching this site, we realized the vegetation was changing. We were immersed in the “ecotone”, the transition area between two different ecosystems. In this case, between the Valdivian rainforest and the steppe. We watched some festucas, neneos, black hawthorns, thistles, as well as bushes and grasses before we got to the challenging wall.

It is advisable to go out in the company of a local guide expert on this kind of extreme adventure sports. Furthermore, a certain degree of physical fitness is necessary to reach the top of the wall.

Once at the base, the guide gave us all the equipment to start our way up: climbing shoes, a harness, a helmet, locking carabiners, carabiners with bent gate and straight gate, 20 to 80 cm. climbing ropes, 1.2 m. climbing ropes, friedscamalots, stoppers, 10.5 mm. climbing rope and thin rope.

There are more than 10 routes on this rock: a couple of them are easy and the rest feature from a 6-grade difficulty on. Routes "La Pili""In Memorian Guy Costa" are approximately 6b/6c. The maximum difficulty is 7a+.

Little by little, we became detached from the ground. In spite of the meters we were climbing, we remained calm because we knew that if we happened to fall, the guide would keep us hanging from the rope until we safely touched the ground. Then we could start over.

We felt the harness keeping us attached to the rope. We slowly found the holes in the rock that let us up. Climbing techniques are based on having three points of support and searching to use leg strength, so that the arm muscles –which are certainly smaller- do not get tired.

We soon found ourselves near the top. We could sense our body shouting “enough!”, but it was only a few more meters to go. One last effort and we would be glorious.

From the top of the wall we could see the entire Esquel mountain range with its snow-capped peaks. We were invaded by silence and solitude.

After a well-deserved rest, we started to get down. We found the figure eight we needed to tie the rope in the shape of a triangle, the geometric figure that best supports weight. We placed the rope that would help us rappel down the wall in the correct position.

Descent may be managed with a figure eight, a descending device used to control the rope through the closed angle it forms,with a grigri, a mechanic descender that locks off the rope automatically to catch a falling climberto simply stop and enjoy the view while hanging from the rope.

We checked that everything was in order, opened our legs and started our way down without letting our hands go. A couple of jumps and we let the rope slide a couple of meters to gain confidence and soon reach solid ground. We were fascinated.

Those who wish to go down without climbing may go up the wall following a steep trail located on the other side to reach the summit.

At the end of this intense adventure, we felt completely satisfied and more than pleased.