Trip Report
Los Arenales - The Best Climbing in Central Argentina

by JSpencerV
Friday December 28, 2012 8:16pm
I just back from an awesome three day trip climbing in Los Arenales after our attempt on Aconcagua. This place seriously has some great rock and is a must visit. There is a lack of online info but the local guidebook is really good. We rented a car but there is information in the guidebook on how to get there by bus and a private pickup.
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Credit: JSpencerV
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Credit: JSpencerV
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Credit: JSpencerV
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I didn't go into much details on the climbs but check out my blog for some cool photos:
http://jspencerv.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/los-arenales-12-24-to-12-26-12.html?m=1

  Trip Report Views: 5,307
JSpencerV 		About the Author
JSpencerV is a trad climber from Santa Monica, CA.

Comments
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  Dec 28, 2012 - 08:19pm PT
Nice! Jay Smith and I climbed there a few years ago....put up a new three pitch crack climb 11c or so. Big fish in that small stream...catch any?
JSpencerV

Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
Author's Reply  Dec 28, 2012 - 08:25pm PT
Donini: Sweet, yeah there is a lot of potential for new routes there. I read somewhere that it was only 10 percent developed. Congrats on the route. We didn't catch any fish; Filet Mignon brought from Mendoza trumped our appetite. Super rad place to climb, especially after freezing our asses on Aconcagua.
Hoots

climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
  Dec 28, 2012 - 08:32pm PT
What a cool zone right? I've taken 3 trips in there, the place takes on a whole 'nother adventurous feel to it as you continue up into the valley. Did a really cool new route on El Marinero too-
http://ryanhuetter.blogspot.com/2010/02/el-regalo-de-poseidon.html
Well worth a trip there in its right, no need to go suffer cold and katabatic winds up on Acon-slog-ua!
Thanks for the TR!
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Dec 29, 2012 - 11:00am PT
Cool, looks like beautiful rock and scenery!!!!!!!
Thanks!
JSpencerV

Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
Author's Reply  Dec 30, 2012 - 07:18am PT
Hoots: cool trip report. Gets me psyched to go back there and hunt out some untouched line.
phillipso

Trad climber
uk
  Dec 30, 2012 - 09:11am PT
Arenales is awesome. A good scene around the refugio, but killer walk ins up the scree!

Argentina would be a sweet place to go for a couple of months. You've got Frey and Arenales for big multipitch granite trad in amazing settings. Valle Encantado for hard sport, and Cochamo just over the border in Chile for big walling. Definitely an underlooked area.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  Dec 30, 2012 - 10:02am PT
The only problem with Arenales is that you are camping at 9,000 ft. and the best climbing is at 11,000 ft. Good training that.
Cochamo has granite walls higher than Yosemite's but is near the sea and has weather issues......catch good weather and it's awesome.
Frey has good, free camping close to the climbing and a great international climbing scene where partners are easy to come by.
JSpencerV

Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
Author's Reply  Dec 31, 2012 - 02:52pm PT
Yeah, The climbing is awesome in Argentina.

I thought about an interesting option.

Climbing in Pantgonia has been a goal of mine but I have been majorly deterred by the weather.

A good option I'm thinking is climbing in Arenales and neighboring areas and checking the weather report for Patogonia daily. Then within a minutes notice of good weather, packing out and fly/bus to Chalten.

This way, you get good climbing and training in without having to wait around in Chalten.

Any thoughts?
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
  Dec 31, 2012 - 03:20pm PT
Really really cool.

I've only been to the Fitzroy area.

Thanks JS!
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Jan 1, 2013 - 01:56am PT
TFPU
S.Leeper

Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
  Jul 16, 2013 - 07:59pm PT
I would love to go to Argentina
Beto

Trad climber
São Carlos - São Paulo State, Brazil
  Dec 13, 2013 - 01:56pm PT
For sure, Argentina is awesome! Went to Frey and Chaltén - superb. For sport and a little bit of trad La Buitrera is a very cool place too.
I'm going to Arenales in december now, any reccomended climbs? Can I find your route on the topos there donini?
RyanD

climber
  Dec 13, 2013 - 01:54pm PT
Awesome!
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