Trip Report
The hidden granite of the Exploradores Valley....It's waiting.
Monday March 2, 2015 12:08pm
In the last few years a dirt road has been gradually pushed to the sea thru the virgin rain forests of the magnificent Exploradores Valley in Chilean Patagonia. I first visited the granite part of this area several years ago when I explored a previously untouched side valley culminating in discovering a beautiful small glacier which I named Ventisquero Angela after my wife.
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The granite slab approach to Ventisquero Angela
The granite slab approach to Ventisquero Angela
Credit: donini
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High above the Exploradores Valley.
High above the Exploradores Valley.
Credit: donini
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Ventisquero Angela
Ventisquero Angela
Credit: donini
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I went back that year with Angela and a young Friend Weston Boyles for some more exploration.
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Nice 5.11 crack on impeccable rock.
Nice 5.11 crack on impeccable rock.
Credit: donini
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Angela and I made a couple of trips this year into the Exploradores
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Kayaking with Angela on Lago Bayo with San Valentin in the background.
Kayaking with Angela on Lago Bayo with San Valentin in the background.
Credit: donini
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Waterfall on Lago Bayo.
Waterfall on Lago Bayo.
Credit: donini
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Another damn waterfall.
Another damn waterfall.
Credit: donini
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The next series of photos are some of the sights in the Exploradores.
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Hmmmmm...
Hmmmmm...
Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Three weeks ago three friends from the AAC (Doug Beall. Clark Gearhardt, and Keegan Young) came to visit resulting in a revisit to the Ventisquero Angela area. No trail, you have to earn your way in.
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Clark, Keegan and Doug negotiating the rain forest.
Clark, Keegan and Doug negotiating the rain forest.
Credit: donini
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Clark out on a limb.
Clark out on a limb.
Credit: donini
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Keegan getting his feet wet.
Keegan getting his feet wet.
Credit: donini
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Doug where no one has gone before.
Doug where no one has gone before.
Credit: donini
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Keegan's Cleft
Keegan's Cleft
Credit: donini
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Time was short and we didn't get the window to do this hidden, moderate but UNCLIMBED peak.
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Credit: donini
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Once you tag the summit you can set your sights on the excellent granite comprising the yet unnamed peaks's north face.
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Credit: donini
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A few pics of some of the other unclimbed rock that needs serious attention.
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Anyone have some gold camalots?
Anyone have some gold camalots?
Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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That's it for this season but I can assure you that next year granite cracks are on the menu.
We can't wait to get back down and renew are relationship with Stumpy the one legged Southern Crested Caracarra who adopted us.
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Everybody likes chicken...I'm no exception.
Everybody likes chicken...I'm no exception.
Credit: donini
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  Trip Report Views: 5,816
donini
About the Author
donini is a trad climber from Ouray, Colorado.

Comments
this just in

climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:18pm PT
Nice looking granite for sure. Funny I had the nerve to warn you about a forty minute approach at Shuteye. Haha. Thanks for the TR.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:19pm PT
Shame you don't have more fun on these terrible terrible trips. ;)
EdwardT

Trad climber
Retired
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:20pm PT
Beautiful mountains. Another little corner of heaven.
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:21pm PT
The whole area/region looks just incredible. Many thanks for posting up about it.
limpingcrab

Gym climber
Minkler, CA
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:23pm PT
Beautiful! Such a cool looking area but I think I'm gonna have to wait for that place to get a little more globally warmed before I do any climbing.
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:39pm PT
Stunning, thanks JD.
mikeyschaefer

climber
Sport-o-land
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:42pm PT
That place looks amazing!
Jones in LA

Mountain climber
Tarzana, California
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:48pm PT
Outstanding. The adventure, the photos. Everything! Thanks again for sharing, Mr.D.

Rich Jones
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Mar 2, 2015 - 12:57pm PT
Beautiful photos Jim. We did love our Exploradores day trip with Angela. A most wonderful place.

I thought this roadside pinnacle along the way would be calling out to you? I appreciate however, it might be too tiny for your attentions.

Sure would be a great summit shot of you balanced on the summit beak.


norm larson

climber
wilson, wyoming
  Mar 2, 2015 - 01:28pm PT
Nice, Jim. Judging by the amount of glaciation I'm guessing it's not blue sky too often.
Norwegian

Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
  Mar 2, 2015 - 01:30pm PT
i imagine that the fella who first discovered the vagina
was no less pleased.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Mar 2, 2015 - 01:43pm PT
hey there say, donini... wow, no words to describe how lovely this is...

wow, precarious, too, but very very lovely... thanks for sharing...

also, say, fritz, very nice rock, share, too...

SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Mar 2, 2015 - 02:40pm PT

Unbelievable stuff, Jim.
Thanks for sharing!
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
  Mar 2, 2015 - 02:44pm PT
Dude! Wow! Cheers!
rick sumner

Trad climber
reno, nevada/ wasilla alaska
  Mar 2, 2015 - 03:45pm PT
Congratulations on a world class climbing area discovery by a world class and tireless explorer.
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
  Mar 2, 2015 - 04:46pm PT
fantastics, thanks!
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
  Mar 2, 2015 - 05:06pm PT
Beautiful!
One of these winters I'm headed down there.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Author's Reply  Mar 2, 2015 - 05:10pm PT
Jaybro....mi casa es su casa.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  Mar 2, 2015 - 05:24pm PT
Outstanding looking mountains Jim!

How is the area around your casita recovering?

That is some tasty looking stone. I got gold Camalots...lots of 'em!

You don't carry anything but two blue ones, right? One for each end of the rope. LOL

Fritz's eyeful looks like Stumpy...if you Caracarra.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Author's Reply  Mar 2, 2015 - 06:17pm PT
Steve...what goes for Jaybro goes for you and Mimi. Recovery has been spectacular.

edit: Fritz's little morsel seems devoid of cracks...might be fun for Caldwell and Jorgensen on a rest day.
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
  Mar 2, 2015 - 06:13pm PT
Great photos Jim. Looks like a great area almost as good as Wyoming. Good to see you back on here. The place has been sorely lacking in good content.
Lynne Leichtfuss

Trad climber
Will know soon
  Mar 2, 2015 - 06:21pm PT
One of my all time favorite TR's. Dude and Dudette you guys rock.

My favorite pic is the first of the two waterfall pics. So abstract, surreal.

Blessings to you both and thanks for the share. lynnie
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Mar 2, 2015 - 08:36pm PT
OOOPS! I just found this shot, among my photos, from the Exploradores road of the "little" pinnacle I was encouraging Donini to climb and pose on.

There is likely a prime & clean hand crack, or not, on one of the three-sides not shown in my close-up photos up-thread.



And on a positive note, the sport-climbers will likely not be fighting the cold-jungle to bolt it.
TWP

Trad climber
Mancos, CO & Bend, OR
  Mar 2, 2015 - 07:51pm PT
FritZ:

Your photo caption: "An easy walk from the road." Your joking, right?

And Jim, I think we'd all like to hear a bit more precise data about the approaches. Temperate rain forest/jungle must make the approaches take about 1 mile/day. Or is it slower? You may not need Sherpas or llamas to carry the loads? But what is the going rate for campesinos to weld machetes and cut minimally passable tracks for gringos who want to get to the base of climbs? Perhaps that logic/concept has been tried for ethical or aesthetic reasons, but why not hire locals for this kind of work to make exploratory expeditions move a hair breath faster to "the good stuff?" (Eyesight bad, please forgive any typos, etc. in the above; cataract surgery coming soon).
bootysatva

Trad climber
Idyllwild / Joshua Tree Ca.
  Mar 2, 2015 - 07:53pm PT
That looks so stellar! Drooool.
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
  Mar 2, 2015 - 08:11pm PT
Fritz's freak beak for the win.
Yafer

Trad climber
Chatsworth, California
  Mar 2, 2015 - 08:55pm PT
Fantastic landscapes! I would love to see places like these someday. I was glad to have met you Jim and Angela. Great travels to both of you.
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Mar 2, 2015 - 09:14pm PT
Mercy.
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
  Mar 2, 2015 - 09:31pm PT
"How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by Jim donini Donini.

Usted es El Supremo!

Gracias! Muchas gracias!
yanqui

climber
Balcarce, Argentina
  Mar 3, 2015 - 03:33am PT
Muy lindos los fotos!
Larry Nelson

Social climber
  Mar 3, 2015 - 01:09pm PT
That part of Patagonia is beautiful. I spent a couple of weeks touring the area back in 2006 with some Brazilian friends. We also took a boat ride to see the marble caves in the area. Beautiful land, beautiful people. Thanks for the great trip report and photos. You have found a true and unspoiled paradise
C4/1971

Trad climber
Depends on the day...
  Mar 3, 2015 - 01:21pm PT
Jim,

Nice to see that you are still charging....I have great memories.
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Mar 3, 2015 - 03:36pm PT
Can't wait till scientists invent a machine that would enable me to be in several places in the same time. :) Thank you for sharing Jim!
Hope I can see you in Indian Creek, and we should plan something for the Sierra too!
Grippa

Trad climber
Salt Lake City, UT
  Mar 3, 2015 - 04:15pm PT
PUT ME IN COACH!
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Mar 3, 2015 - 06:16pm PT
Those cracks look amazing,
Thanks Jim,
You are a lucky man!!!
Morgan

Trad climber
East Coast
  Mar 3, 2015 - 06:22pm PT
Steepest glaciers, ever!
GARY Owen

Trad climber
Lexington
  Mar 5, 2015 - 08:33am PT
Thanks for inspiring!
FRUMY

Trad climber
Bishop,CA
  Mar 5, 2015 - 08:45am PT
TFPU!
stefano607518

Trad climber
italy/austria/switzerland
  Mar 5, 2015 - 01:44pm PT
ehy Jim i think i might visit you down there once...looks awesome
kirkadirka

Trad climber
Boulder, CO
  Mar 9, 2015 - 10:32am PT
Awesome photos Jim. These help replace all the ones I lost after I dropped my camera off a very large cliff in cochamó a week ago. Hope to meet up with you in Chile one of these days. If you need a place to crash in Santiago next time you come down just let me know.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
  Mar 9, 2015 - 10:41am PT
Que bonita!
L

climber
Just livin' the dream
  Mar 9, 2015 - 10:51am PT
Most amazing set of mountain and damn waterfall photos I've ever seen. How were you even able to choose a starting place with such a granite buffet?

I love Stumpy!

Thanks for a great TR, Jim.
Cole

Trad climber
los angeles
  Mar 9, 2015 - 11:05am PT
So very cool! That granite looks impeccable.
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
  Mar 9, 2015 - 12:11pm PT
You are certainly getting your money's worth out of this lifetime. Beautiful!
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
  Mar 9, 2015 - 01:19pm PT
What a life, what a world...
Karla

climber
Colorado
  Mar 9, 2015 - 03:55pm PT
Thanks so much for the hospitality! I ate the calafate berries when I was there, you know what that means!:)
rolo

climber
  Mar 15, 2015 - 06:10pm PT
Last year Enzo Oddo and a couple of other French climbers went to a wall in the Río de los Exploradores, which they described as being 3000 feet tall, with good compact granite. I wonder if it is one of the walls that can be seen in your photos. Here is a shot from them.
Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
  Jul 30, 2015 - 01:56pm PT
Jim, such and awesome trip report. And, in general, thank you for bringing inspiration and insight to SuperTopo.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Author's Reply  Jul 30, 2015 - 06:37pm PT
Thanks for the kind words Chris and thanks for creating a forum for climbers. Internet forums are truly democratic. A soapbox for anyone who cares to step up. But you can also seperate the chaff and there is a lot of wheat on ST.
Studly

Trad climber
WA
  Jul 30, 2015 - 06:56pm PT
Two thumbs up and a big toe!
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
  Jul 30, 2015 - 07:34pm PT
Looks ok, if your into that kinda thing I guess. :)
Larry Nelson

Social climber
  May 31, 2016 - 02:49pm PT
Bump to page 1 ;-)
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