Piedra del Fraile
This is a smooth hike, on an almost flat terrain, ideal for those who prefer such terrain. To begin this hike, the passengers are picked up at their hotel on vehicle, on the reason that the start of the trail is locate at 18km from El Chaltén. The vehicle travels through a dirt road along the course of of El Rio de las Vueltas, heading for Lago del Desierto, until it reaches Rio Eléctrico bridge, which is the starting point of this activity. At this point the hike begins which mostly follows the right sideline of Rio Electrico (Electric River), and at a certain point detours to the reddish walls of Cerro Electrico (Electric Mount). It’s a 2 hours walk to the “Piedra Del Fraile”, the place where Padre Agostini established a base for his investigations in the area. Today exists a private camping area (Piedra Del Fraile), with a shelter where one can have a meal or enjoy a snack. Only a short distance away a Viewpoint is located which grants a view at the north wall of the Fitz Roy. The return is done on the same trail until reaching Rio Eléctrico Bridge, where transport is taken to head back to El Chaltén.
- Length: Half day (5 hs).
- Total Distance: 6 Km approximately.
- Unevenness: 100 meters.
- Technical difficulty: Beginner.
- Physical Demand: Low
- Starting Time: Open Schedule. Offered only in private service.
1.- Lago Eléctrico y Glaciar Pollone:
For those with more energy or time, the visit to Piedra Del Fraile may continue with a trekking extending to Glaciar Pollone (5 km, two hours walk). A walk along the river untul reaching Lago Electrico (Electric Lake), contemplating a better view of the north side wall of the Fitz Roy accompanied of Mermoz and Guillaumet pointers.
Afterwards, we proceed until reaching the sight of Glaciares Pollone and North Fitz Roy.
- Length: 2hs from Piedra Del Fraile (in and out)
- Total Distance: 5 Km approximately.
- Unevenness meters: 100
- Technical Difficulty: Beginner
- Physical demand: moderate
2. - Paso del Cuadrado:
This trekking also begins from the shelter at “Piedra Del Fraile”. As it is a long duration trekking, if the passengers have more time, it would be ideal to stay a night at this shelter. Bear in mind that this is a trekking of 1100 of unevenness and 4 hours of constant ascent, where the need for crampons is almost assured.
One hour after departure we can already contemplate the granite cirque of the Guillaumet Pointer and the Marconi Glacier, the entrance to Hielo Contineltal (Continental Ice). We keep gaining altitude, until reaching 1100 meters above sea level and vegetation practically disappears. From this point, we can observe the frozen giant “Cerro Gorra Blanca” (White Cap Mount). With a little more effort, we reach the “Glaciar del Cuadrado”. Here we are at 1500 meter above sea level and depending on the physical condition of the passengers, the Guide will evaluate continuing forward.. The “Paso del Cuadrado” is devised at 200 meters above. From here, the passengers are stringed and wearing crampons to ascend to the small glacier Glaciar del Cuadrado. From this moment, The reward is immense, because it possesses the best mountain Bird’s-eye view of the entire area: the west face of the Guilaumet, Mermoz and Fitz Roy pointers, also contemplating the granite cirque of Torre Mount, Pollone Mount and a stunning panoramic of the Campo de Hielo Patagonico sur (South Patagonian Ice Field) with Paso Marconi (Marconi pass) and Volcan Lautaro on the back. This ascension does not require previous technical knowledge, but it does require good physical condition, for its a long journey. On the afternoon, we walk back to Piedra Del Fraile and Rio Electrico. Right after transfer service bring us back to El Chalten from the Rio Electrico Bridge.
- Length: Full Day (12 hs)
- Total Distance: 24 Km approximately.
