Argentina 2011
Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (Paso Ancho), 13 My other Andes photo narrative
The Pampa del Leoncito between Barreal and the Santa Ana trailhead. 03/03/2011 09:57:59
Tasting the desert below some snow-capped peaks of the Ansilta Range. 03/03/2011 09:58:46
Crossing the Rio Colorado for the seventh and last time. 04/03/2011 10:32:27
The grimace speaks volumes about just how freezing cold the water is. 04/03/2011 10:32:35
Mercedario rising over our boulder-sheltered tent. 05/03/2011 08:15:51
In the Pirca de Polacos, below the south face of Mercedario. 05/03/2011 08:17:12
At the north side of the Valle del Colorado. 05/03/2011 11:46:10
Relishing the first sight of Ramada. 06/03/2011 10:23:10
Examining the track leading to Alma Negra. 06/03/2011 12:18:29
Short break while bringing food and fuel to camp 1. 06/03/2011 12:17:41
Gabriel studies Mercedario and Pico Negro on the way up to camp 1. 06/03/2011 12:17:53
Preventing dehydration with Ramada looming large in the background. 06/03/2011 12:19:05
Lower end of the Italian Glacier. 06/03/2011 12:20:33
Short break on the climb to camp 1, with what felt like a close-up view of the Italian Glacier. 06/03/2011 12:12:09
Mercedario dwarfs us on our climb to camp 1. Both photos by Gabriel Fava / Andes Limite. 06/03/2011 13:23:57
First night in camp 1: snow outside, dinner inside. 07/03/2011 20:01:11
From camp 1:
Alma Negra, Pico San Juan, La Mesa, and Pico Franco Argentino. 08/03/2011 09:14:22
Pico San Juan, La Mesa, Pico Franco Argentino, and Pico Polaco. 08/03/2011 09:14:04
Pico Polaco, Mercedario, and Pico Negro. 08/03/2011 09:13:43
Mercedario, Pico Negro, and Wanda. 08/03/2011 09:13:15
Ramada from camp 1. The route follows the north-east shoulder to the left. 08/03/2011 09:14:58 & 09:15:36
Pass between Ramada and Alma Negra from camp 1. 08/03/2011 09:17:50
Eric in search of sun rays while camp 1 is still frozen in the shade. 08/03/2011 09:16:02
Enjoying a break halfway up the steep slope leading to camp 2. Photo by Eric Sas (with his camera). 08/03/2011 11:42:15
Camp 1 at 4600m, below Ramada. 09/03/2011 11:35:55
Rest and acclimatization day in camp 1. 09/03/2011 11:31:27
A break while climbing to camp 2. 10/03/2011 12:48:46 & 12:49:01
Looking at Wanda and Friuly with Pico Negro to the left. 10/03/2011 13:28:12
Eric before Pico Negro, Wanda, and Friuly. 10/03/2011 13:27:52
Delicious pasta with mushrooms and cheese in camp 2. 10/03/2011 19:05:56
Panorama dinner in the Torres Rosadas high camp with Friuly in the background. Photo by Eric Sas (with his camera). 10/03/2011 19:14:12
Dinner in the Torres Rosadas high camp with Ramada and the track up in the background. 10/03/2011 19:12:13 & 19:13:07
A wind-sheltered break on summit day. 11/03/2011 10:26:06
At approximately 5500m, with some 45 minutes to go to Ramada's north-east ridge. Photo by Eric Sas (with his camera). 11/03/2011 11:12:08
On Ramada's north-east ridge at 5700m. 11/03/2011 12:21:29
From Ramada's north-east ridge at 5700m:
Main Andean divide between Pico Polaco and Mercedario. 11/03/2011 12:22:53
Mercedario and Pico Negro, with to their right the Agua Negra peaks Olivaras and Majadita on the horizon. 11/03/2011 12:22:23
Upper end of the Italian Glacier, La Mesa, Pico Polaco, and Mercedario. 11/03/2011 12:23:27 & 12:23:32
Looking down on camp 2 or Torres Rosadas with Mercedario, Pico Negro, Wanda, and Friuly in the background. 11/03/2011 13:42:56 & 13:43:19
Camp 2 or Torres Rosadas with Mercedario, Pico Negro, Wanda, and Friuly in the background. 11/03/2011 13:52:50 & 13:53:05
Back in the Pirca de Polacos base camp after a night which had left —note the white patches— some streams of the Rio Colorado frozen over. 12/03/2011 09:15:34
Photographer Eric casts his shadow over the Pirca de Polacos base camp. 12/03/2011 09:28:55
Breakfast in the Pirca de Polacos base camp. 12/03/2011 09:16:51
Guanaco skeleton. 12/03/2011 15:20:19
Exploring the Rio Colorado stream bed. 12/03/2011 15:17:46
Thorny bushes and grass tussocks with Mirador and Pico Polaco in the background. 12/03/2011 15:15:59
Tomorrow's challenge: the steep and tricky climb to the balcony of the 6000ers near the Paso Ancho. 12/03/2011 15:30:05
Two days before: that same pass seen from high up on Ramada. 10/03/2011 13:28:18
The three of us in base camp (taken with a self timer). 13/03/2011 08:31:07
Sunny breakfast below Mercedario. Both photos by Gabriel Fava / Andes Limite. 13/03/2011 08:56:51
At just about the only flat spot of the climb to the Paso Ancho, with Ramada, Pico San Juan, and La Mesa in the background. 13/03/2011 11:14:11 & 11:15:14
Pico San Juan, Pico Franco Argentino, La Mesa, and Pico Polaco. 13/03/2011 11:16:57
At two-thirds of the climb to the Paso Ancho and the balcony of the 6000ers:
Pico Polaco and the south face of Mercedario. 13/03/2011 12:29:31
Ramada, Pico San Juan, and La Mesa round the Valle Superior. 13/03/2011 12:29:48
Alma Negra, Pico San Juan, La Mesa, and Pico Polaco. 13/03/2011 12:30:04
A good half an hour below the Paso Ancho. 13/03/2011 13:06:25
Leading Eric on the last meters up to the balcony. Both photos by Gabriel Fava / Andes Limite. 13/03/2011 13:43:21
At the balcony of the 6000ers, a little east of the Paso Ancho cairn at the Don Antonio-Mercedario ridge:
Ramada, Alma Negra, and La Mesa round the Valle Superior. 13/03/2011 14:36:06
Alma Negra, La Mesa, and Pico Polaco. 13/03/2011 14:35:56
La Mesa, Pico Polaco, and the south face of Mercedario. 13/03/2011 14:35:49
Mate ritual. 13/03/2011 14:35:43
Tackling the penultimate crossing of the Rio Colorado. Both photos by Gabriel Fava (with Eric's camera). 15/03/2011 10:41:06 & 10:41:31
And finally: a big thank you to Gabi from both of us. You made an already spectacular climb even better.
All photos by Tijs Michels, unless noted otherwise; © 2011.