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 Estimated reading time: 2 min. |
  Gonzalo Aziz |
The journey starts early in the morning in Club Andino, from where you leave to Pampa Linda, at the foot of Mount Tronador, which is 3554 m. high, one of the highest ones in Patagonia.
You will be taken in a two-hour drive along route 258 to lake Mascardi, and from there through a debris road to Pampa LInda.
The best thing to do is to have lunch in Pampa Linda, and then start hiking up through a trail in the forest to Otto Meiling lodge, what takes about 4 or 5 hours. Under normal conditions you arrive in the afternoon, take some rest, and wait for the next day.
Meiling lodge, built at 2000 meters above sea level, is situated between two glaciers: Castaña Overa and Alerce, with a view to the three peaks of Mount Tronador. From this lodge, you may choose from a variety of excursions on the ice, for which you need a professional guide of the AAGM, by resolution of the National Parks Administration. |
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We highly recommend the journey to Castaña Overa Glacier, which can be adapted to all public, even if you are a beginner.
The ice walls, 1 km. wide, fall from the mountain peaks, and are originated by the melting of the river Castaña Overa. It is really worth being there.
This outing starts at 9 a.m. Before you leave, it is important to have a good breakfast to get plenty of energy. After that, together with your guide, you prepare all your equipment: the harness, long and short pickaxes for marching and climbing respectively, the helmet, gloves, rigid boots and crampons, ropes, and hooks. After you check all that, you are ready to start walking.
It is a 45 minutes' walk from the shelter to the glacier, and once you arrive there, your guide will help you put your crampons on. If you have never done it before, you will feel your feet strange, since you must walk with a wide step, raising you knees and lowering the center of gravity.
From the glacier you can see Pama Linda on the valley, and the imposing peaks of Mount Tronador. You can also see the seracs, ice blocks which may get loose and have to be avoided. |
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As you walk through the ice, you will have to avoid blue crevasses following the instructions of your guide. Your ropes will be supported by very strong ice screws, each one with a capacity to support 800 kg. |
Beginners are taken to easy slopes, with gradients around 65 degrees, while people with previous experience on ice will be taken to more difficult ones (85 to 90 degrees).
You will climb to the surface of the glacier using the different techniques that the guides will teach you.
When you arrive, they will be waiting for you with a cup of tea in the middle of the ice. |
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Finally, after some hours, you start walking back to the shelter, where you will surely make new friends and feel motivated to meet again and go on practising this sport. |
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2050 Travel.com
Rolando 263 (8400) San Carlos de Bariloche - Río Negro - Argentina
Tel: +54 2944 43-7527 / 43-3899
 
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