Fitzroy Peak
Fitzroy Peak is a peak located in Patagonia in the border region between Argentina and Chile. It has an elevation of 3,405 meters.
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This peak is also known by its other names, Cerro Chalten and Cerro Fitzroy. By the way, “Chalten” means “smoking” or “smoking mountain” in the Tehuelche language; it is indeed as if the mountain is always shrouded in smoke. This impression is created because of the clouds that almost always surround the peak.
History of the summit
The first European to see and describe Fitzroy was Francisco Moreno in March 1877. Incidentally, it was he who ignored the local name of Mount Chalten and gave the peak the name Fitzroy in honor of traveler Robert Fitzroy, who explored Patagonia.
It is known that Mount Fitzroy, like a magnet, attracted many climbers, but it remained unclimbed until the middle of the last century, despite repeated attempts.
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So, for the first time the mountain was conquered by a man in 1952 – the first ascent of Fitzroy made by the Frenchmen Lionel Terray and Guido Magnone.
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In general, despite the fact that the height of the mountain is not considered too high, this peak is considered quite difficult to climb. Some parts of the slopes of the mountain are granite rocks, and, in addition to the actual surface, a considerable difficulty for climbers and the weather conditions, which are suitable for conquering the summit very rarely. By the way, looking at the almost smooth and steep sections of the rock, you can imagine how difficult the ascent can be.
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However, the mountain has not once been conquered, despite all the difficulties that nature has put in front of perhaps the most restless and persistent representative of man – the mountaineer. Thus, it was visited by Argentines Carlos Comesagna and Jose Luis Fonruge, Americans Dick Dorworth, Chris Jones, Douglas Tompkins, Dean Potter and Colin Haley. Notably, Potter and Haley conquered Fitzroy in 2002 and 2009 respectively, while all of their predecessors climbed to the top as far back as the 1960s.
.It should be added that all of the above are very, very famous climbers, and Fitzroy remains a tantalizing and insurmountable peak for many, many climbers.
.Tourists
Who at least once visited at the foot of Fitzroy will never forget how striking the mountain with its majesty and rugged beauty. The clouds come, completely covering it, then suddenly disappear, leaving behind only a light haze.
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This veil of clouds often almost completely hides the protruding sharp peaks, so Fitzroy is a very popular tourist destination. The most popular hiking routes are from the village of El Chalten, and groups are also formed for multi-day hikes. There are smaller and easier peaks on the mountain for climbing – these are the most attractive for many not too ambitious climbers. So, having been here, almost everyone can conquer “their own peak Fitzroy”, and from there to admire the proud and impregnable peak.
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By the way, visiting the mountain, which is located in the territory of the Los Glaciares National Park – paid, but for permission to climb, which also have to obtain, do not have to pay.
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However, often even happy holders of permits to climb the mountain have to wait weeks for the right weather – the climate in the area is very capricious, and constant winds often make it impossible even not too extreme hike up. The most suitable time to climb Fitzroy is considered to be summer in the Southern Hemisphere: from December to February.
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