Ramada / Paso Ancho / March 2011

Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (Paso Ancho), 13

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.