Flying from El Chalten to Paso Superior

Climbing in Patagonia is already great, but combining it with flying makes it even more fun. At least in my opinion, skipping the approach and the slog out of the mountains makes it even better. Here is a video from one of the last weather windows of my 2025/26 Patagonia season in El Chaltén. I hiked with friends to Rosado, just above town, carrying all the climbing and camping gear. I had Jake’s old Zolite MS, so I didn’t have to worry too much about weight. After storing the 20+ kg of gear in the Biv 1, I waited for the conditions to get stronger, as there isn’t much height to work with. Luckily, around 11:30, things started working. After some scratching, I finally hooked a thermal and climbed out. I transitioned to Loma de las Pizarras, headed towards cloud base, and eventually had enough glide to make it to Paso Superior. After quickly crossing the glacier, I landed directly at the pass. All in all, the flight took less than an hour. After pitching the tent, I figured I’d eat and get some rest before an early start the next morning. A friend and I had planned to climb the Californian, with him hiking up light during the night. Unfortunately, he had to cancel at the last minute. While waking up and making breakfast, I realized I’d be going solo unless I came up with another plan. So I threw the ropes and double rack into my bag and ran across the glacier towards the base of Mermoz, hoping to catch up with the team of three who had left for Pilar Rojo. Luckily, I caught up with them at the base, and they were kind enough to let me join. After a last-minute change of plans, I ended up climbing with Robby from Australia. We climbed Pilar Rojo in two teams, making our way up to the top of the pillar before rappelling back down. Conditions were cold, but the splitters were definitely worth it. These cracks are among the nicest I’ve climbed in the mountains around Chaltén. I was pretty happy to be back on the glacier with plenty of daylight left. That meant I could once again fit all my gear into the harness, take off directly from Paso Superior, and land back in town just 15 minutes later. I’m really happy I got to climb with the guys that day. And this little proof of concept — climbing the Red Pillar with less than an hour of walking — feels pretty sweet.