AGUJAS DEL VALLE DEL MESONCITO

The Valle Del Mesoncito is hidden behind the Cerro Arenas. It constitutes a plateau-like massive some 1000m above the valley El Morado. A hike of 4 hours will take you up to 3500m, the base of the upper Agujas. Higher up, there are several 4000+ m peaks with the rests of glaciars and extended snow fields, allowing excellent ski excursions until the early summer.  Left: Panorama de Diego, higher resolution than shown, save to disk to view it in detail... Mesoncito is in the upper left corner.

Valle Del Mesoncito is the narrow canyon that runs up to a hidden high plateau. The hike which leads you up, is a well marked path to the left of the canyon (3-5h). 

In 2002, Dario Arancibia and Felipe González put up the first route in this valley on a cliff called Aguja Principal (no more information available). In 2003, M. and E. Waldhoer added three routes on three different cliffs. The Agujas are made up of vertical standing layers of hard standstones and conglomerates. There are tons of loose debris in the faces, but outside the cracks the rock itself is solid and probably allows fine bolted routes. 

Aguja Toblerone  Right above: First ascent of Cockroach Cluster 5.8, Aguja Snickers Right below: First ascent of Berty Bott´s Every Flavour Beans 5.9, Aguja Caramelo

• Location: Above Baños Morales in the Cajón de Maipo, behind the Cerro Arenas, see map Cajón de Maipo
• Access: 3-5h from the road from Baños Morales up the Valle El Morado
• Rock: Vertical layers of hard sandstone, loose
• Routes: 4
• Grades: 5.7-5.9
• Characteristics: Face and crack climbing in mostly solid rock, debris on the terrasses
• Height: until 300m
• Equipment: full gear
• Season: Summer only

See more photos from climbing...