Fitz Roy

Main peak of Fitz Roy

The Fitz Roy, Cerro Chalten and Cerro Fitzroy or, occasionally FitzRoy, is a 3406 -meter high granite mountain in the Argentine- Chilean Andes in South America. He is one of the main attractions in the Los Glaciares National Park.

In the language of the natives, the Tehuelche Indians called the mountain El Chalten, which in their language "Smoking Mountain " meant, because of the often visible at the top of clouds. Today, the nearest village bears the name of El Chalten. From there, several -day hikes can zoom close to the mountain to do.

As the first European Hefty 1877 Perito Moreno saw the mountain. He named it after the commander of Charles Darwin's research ship HMS Beagle, Robert FitzRoy.

Ascents

In 1951 a French group launched under the direction of Lionel Terray with the participants Jacques Poincenot, Guido Magnone, MA Azena, R. Ferlet, Lliboutry, Depasse Strouvé and the Argentines Francisco Ibáñez. First, the expedition had no luck: On the approach of the experienced climbers Poincenot drowned in a river crossing, after the first climbing attempts proved to be very difficult. It was only on February 2, 1952 Terray and Magnone succeeded in the first ascent. On January 16, 1986, the Austrian Thomas Bubendorfer managed the first solo ascent. 1994 succeeded Christoph Hainz in just under nine hours, the fastest ever solo ascent of the mountain.

Due to its shape and extreme, unpredictable weather conditions, the mountain is still true today as extremely difficult to climb. Most attempts to climb remain unsuccessful.

Demarcation

The demarcation at the Fitz Roy massif to Cerro Daudet is disputed between Chile and Argentina. A joint Boundary Commission agreed on 16 December 1998 to postpone the boundaries in this area, the Cerro Fitz Roy is set as the starting point in the north and the Cerro Daudet as an endpoint in the south.

Fitz Roy (right) and Cerro Torre (left)

El Chalten with Fitz Roy in the background

Summit of Fitz Roy in the storm

More

The Fitz Roy is performed both in the arms of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz as well as the logo of the company Patagonia.