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| PATAGONIA WINTER |
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Andy Kirkpatrick and Ian Parnell attempt first winter ascent of Torre Egger
Two of Britain's most successful and popular alpinists Ian Parnell and Andy Kirkpatrick have set off for another spectacular adventure in the depths of a Patagonian winter. Their objective this time is an attempt to be the first to climb Torre Egger in winter, reputedly one of the hardest summits in South America. The peak has only been summited half a dozen or so times in summer but never in winter. They plan to climb the mountain via 'Titanic' a 5.10 (E2) A2 summer route, allegedly one of the safer lines on the tower. The rock will be well iced up in sections, particularly at the back of the crack systems, making the climbing similar to Scottish winter in places (desperate!). The hardest section of the route will be the terrifying summit snow mushrooms, where great blobs of rime ice overhang from every angle.
'If we get that far we'll be doing pretty well', commented Ian.
'I don't want to think about that bit, its too scary', was Andy's view
This route is very ambitious and if it proves to be too much their back up plan is a 600m ice line on the adjacent Cerro Stanhardt.
'Ian called last night from the village of Calafate to say they had arrived safely at the entrance to the park. Ian said the weather wasn't looking too good in the mountains so they were going to ferry a load to the base of the route and come out again unless the weather suddenly lifted.' Reports Alastair Lee.
Andy and Ian are filming their adventure with equipment supplied by Posing Productions and film maker Alastair Lee will produce a film to be included on the forthcoming PSYCHE dvd.
Follow their progress on the Posing Productions website.
All photographs Ian Parnell. |
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