INTERNATIONAL TRIPS 2012-13

Argentina

Rock Climbing in Frey and the Four Huts Trip

This is one of our favorite trips. Combining kayaking, hiking, trekking, rock climbing in one trip is a great way to spend a Spring Break or holiday with the family. Outside the city of Bariloche is a national park which offers a recreational activity for everyone. Lakes and mountains, skiing and climbing. Trekking from one hut to another are all interesting ways to experience this area. Combined with delicious regional cuisine and splendid weather this is an area, which can be visited many times. In this trip itinerary we offer just a sampling of this area’s recreational potential.

Day One: Arrive in Bariloche and check into our hotel by the lake. After settling in we have dinner together and go over the trip itinerary and activities for tomorrow.

Day Two: Get up and have a relaxing breakfast. We then get our kayaks and explore the lake just outside our hotel. Later in the afternoon we go into town and have dinner. We prepare for our four-day trek.

Day Three: We rise early and catch the bus into Cerro Catedral where we begin our trek into the Frey Hut. Our hike into the hut takes about 4 hours. Once at the hut we get settled in and maybe have time to go over some basic rock climbing skills. The hut is surrounded by dramatic granite spires and is situated next to a alpine lake. This is a favorite rock climbing area.

Day Four: After a hardy breakfast we leave the hut for a day of rock climbing. Depending on the skill level of everyone on the trip we will go over basic instruction or go right into the climbing. The approach to almost any and all of the spires we will climb is just a 30 minutes hike from the hut. We break for lunch and then return the hut in the late afternoon and enjoy the alpenglow of the evening sun and the beauty of the changing shadows on the lake.

Day Five: We leave the Frey Hut by 9am for our trek to Refugio San Martin (Jakob). Hiking around the lake we begin ascending the flank of Cerro Catedral all the way to the ridge. Views of Vn Osorno Tronador, Lanin and below us the Lenga forests of the Rucaco Valley. We descend into this valley and then climb across the Brecha Negra Mountain where we see pheasants and other wildlife. Once we descend this valley we arrive at Refuge Jakob where we spend the night.

Day Six: This is our longest day and we leave the hut after an early breakfast so as to take advantage of good weather. After leaving the lake and valley below we follow cairns and rocky couloirs up the side of Cerro Inocentes. Continuing for several hours along the ridgeline we follow cross-country until we see the Laguna Negro where our hut, Refugio Segre is located. Once we meet the trail to the hut the hiking is easier.

Day Seven: This day is easier than yesterday and takes us to Refugio Lopez which is our last hut before we make our final descent in Bariloche. Today we leave Refugio Segre and circle around Laguna Negra to rock slabs which we ascend and reach the main ridgeline which we follow for several hour until we reach the summit of Cerro Lopez. After admiring the stupendous views we have a 1-2 hour descent to the Refugio where we spend the night.

Day Eight: We have a leisurely breakfast and then descend the well-traveled path for 2 hours over and through grassy slopes to meet the road at the end of our trail and our transportation. From this pickup point it is a quick 90 minute drive to Bariloche. >/p>

Day Nine: Spend the morning in Bariloche. Depart for airport. Fly back to USA. This schedule may be different depending on time and date of departing flight.

EXTRA DAYS MAY BE ADDDED ONTO THIS ITINERARY AS YOU WISH.

Price includes the following:
Transportation to and from airport in Bariloche to hotel. All transport in Bariloche area.
All hotel and room expenses while in Bariloche.
All huts and hut meals.
All meals in Bariloche.
Kayak rentals. All group climbing gear such as ropes, hardware etc.

Price does NOT include the following:
Transportation and airfare expenses to Bariloche.
Airport duty tax.
Travel expenses to and from Bariloche.
Personal equipment expenses.
Expenses related to alcohol.
Trip insurance.

Total Price for this trip is $3,800.00 per person with a three person minimum.