CERRO IGLESIAS

Cerro Iglesias

• Location: Portillo, but on argentinian side, 3-4h from Santiago
• Access: 2-3h to base camp from road
• Characteristics: Steep ice and mixed climbing
• Rock: Volcanic of dubious quality
• Routes: 1
• Grades: ice, mixed until 5.9
• Characteristics: alpine style gullies
• Height: until 350m and more
• Equipment: Nothing in place
• Exposure: S
• Season: Eary summer, perhaps also in fall

In January 2001, PabloCrovetto and Mario de la Fuente put up a fine mixed route in the style of alpine couloirs. 

In order to access you have to get the passport stamps to leave the country at the border post Los Libertadores. Take the Carretera Internacional to Mendoza until the eastern access to the Túnel del Cristo Redentor. Leave the car in the parking of the building Edificio de Vialidad. From here walk 2-3h until the upper plateau superior, which is in front of the face. 

Andrea´s Gully: 
8 pitches, 350m, WI III, 4, mix climbing until 5.9, overall TD-

The first pitch climbs a pilar of rotten rock, 5.8. Then take an icy 12m-chimney followed by a narrow gully with ice which ends in a cave with stalactites. Then climb through cracks and a ridge (5.9 mixed) which leaves you at the base of a narrow gully with snow and ice that stretches some 200m, 60-65°, until the top. Descent: traverse the rigde to the central shoulder, from there rappel down 6 ropes and downclimb couloir. 

Season: early summer (November-January)

The route (dotted line) and the descent (full line)