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Argentina 2010Introduction:
In January 2010, we headed for Argentina to climb in the high and dry Andes. Our goal was to make a staged Aconcagua style climb to a 20,000+ foot summit but . . . without the crowds. We wanted to do as we've done over the past few years . . . get off the tourist trail and climb a peak that doesn't see lots of traffic, doesn't have an internet cafe or hamburguesa stand at the trail head, isn't a destination for the commercial guiding outfits and still has a wild and adventurous side. We selected Argentina's Valle de Colorado to get off the beaten path and we found everything we bargained for. We summitted Cerro de Ramada, a 21,000 footer about 80 miles from the very popular Aconcagua. Sure . . . we were 1800 feet shy of the roof of the Americas but we were alone in a remote Andean valley, surrounded by glaciers, rarely climbed peaks, guanacos and the best Argentine compadres we could ever ask for. Mother nature threw in a couple of snow storms, an electrical storm, an earthquake, and enough mid day heat to turn the morning's tame stream crossings into the afternoon risky high water affairs. We worked with a great outfit that took care of all of the logistical needs without even a rumor of hassle or hang-up. I'm not saying they just did a good job, I'm saying they didn't miss a beat. To top it all off, we had some of the best Argentine beef one could ever find in Mendoza, had a great night at a out of the way lodge in Barreal and even took in a day long wine tour to finish off the perfect jaunt to Argentina. Read on, I'll serve up all the details . . .
next page(see menu bar "Expeditions" above for alternative listing of all trip segments)
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