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Rogue Adventures are excited to announce an expedition to Mount San Valentin (4058m) ‐ the highest peak in Patagonia. The location of San Valentin in the middle of the impressive Northern Patagonian Ice Field makes it a tremendous climb in one of the world’s most remote and spectacular alpine environments. San Valentin is a challenging expedition, with extreme weather, heavy loads and sled pulling required to access high camp. This expedition is for the highly motivated mountaineer, experienced with cold weather conditions, looking to make a summit attempt on this highly sought after mountain in a truly special alpine wilderness.
Non-exclusive trips:
On selected departures, this trip is not exclusive to Rogue Adventures, and you will be joining a group of 2 – 8 adventurers from around the world.
Day 1 BALMACEDA TO TERRA LUNA (1300M)
Day 2 TERRA LUNA (1300M)
Day 3 TERRA LUNA TO ITALIAN CAMP (1600M) VIA HELICOPTER
Day 4 ITALIAN CAMP TO RATON CAMP (1900M)
Day 5 RATON CAMP TO TERRACE CAMP (2400M)
Day 6 TERRACE CAMP TO HIGH CAMP (3150M)
Day 7-10 CLIMB SAN VALENTIN (4058M) PLUS CONTINGENCY DAYS
Day 11 HIGH CAMP TO RATON CAMP (1900M)
Day 12 RATON CAMP TO ITALIAN CAMP (1600M)
Day 13 ITALIAN CAMP TO TERRA LUNA
Day 14 TERRA LUNA
Day 15 TERRA LUNA TO BALMACEDA
14 breakfasts, 15 lunches, 14 dinner
Mountaineering guide and local leader
Helicopter on and off the icecap
Comfortable lodge (twin sharing) at Terra Luna
All internal ground transport
Airport transfers
All national park and site entry fees
Group medical kit
Two person (twin sharing) tents and group camping equipment
All food and cooking equipment while on the mountain (prepared by individual group members)
Snow shoes, sleds, shovels, tents, radios, GPS
Internal flights
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
Bottle water, aerated and alcoholic beverages
Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc.
Tips
International airfares and departure taxes
Visa
Travel Insurance
Personal climbing gear (boots, ice axe, harness etc)
Any and all costs associated with leaving the expedition early or any changes to the itinerary as described
Flexibility and co‐operation are key to the success of the expedition. Many factors are taken into consideration, such as weather and snow conditions, before a plan is set for each day. In most cases climbing days will commence with very early “alpine starts”. On this expedition, group members will be required to carry a full pack weighing about 30kg, establish camp each evening which includes pitching your tent and building snow walls, cooking your own food and melting snow for drinking water, and pulling a sled (1 sled for every 3 team members, so this work is shared throughout the day) weighing about 50kg. Snow shoes will be used throughout the exedition, and the group will be roped together as is standard in a glaciated environment. Most days on the icecap will require about 8 hours to move between camps, with another 2‐3 hours to establish camp. On summit day expect 12+hrs of sustained climbing on exposed and technical terrain. Weather may include cold and stormy conditions, adding an extra challenge to setting up camp at the end of a long day on the icecap. Your guide will brief you each evening, and discuss the plan of action and what is expected for the coming day.
Chile boasts an astounding geographical diversity ranging from the driest place on earth (Atacama Desert) to the rain swept Patagonian peaks in the south where the Patagonian ice‐cap is the third largest mass of ice in the world. The country rarely exceeds 200km in breadth, yet is 4300 km long. To the north, Chile borders Peru and Bolivia, whilst to the east the Andes separate it from Argentina, and the Pacific Ocean runs the length of its western coast line. It has the largest European population in South America (5%) yet the traditions of its Indian population (5%) continue to thrive in the Andean foothills. Just over 14 million people live in Chile, of which 5 million are based in Santiago. The capital city of Santiago, like its Argentinean equivalent Buenos Aires, has a distinctly European flavour. The southern towns of Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales are completely different again, located as they are near the end of the world! Both towns have great seafood and good scenery and Punta Arenas has the added bonus of some excellent museums.
You should expect day time temperatures on the Icefield to hover between 0‐15C, with night temperatures dropping well below 0, but rarely colder than ‐20C. As with any glaciated environment, conditions can change very quickly, and climbers must be prepared for this.
Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut‐free or allergen‐free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travelers with life‐threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self‐administering these medications.
Specialist gear is required (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre‐departure information provided on booking).
You will need to carry all your personal gear and you should expect your pack to weigh about 30kg. You also need to share in the work of pulling a sled that weighs about 50kg throughout the day. Throughout the expedition you will be required to establish camps, and this may take place in inclement weather. Your mountaineering pack needs to be a minimum 90litre capacity.
During the course of your trip, we will use a variety of vehicles, all of which are fit for purpose and the conditions encountered. It should be noted that laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and whilst wherever possible, vehicles with seatbelts are provided, on occasion some vehicles may not have seat belts fitted.
Visas are not required for passport holders from the following countries visiting Chile however some nationalities are required to pay a “reciprocity fee” in USD cash on arrival if entering via Santiago International Airport, for short term tourism purposes.
Australia: fee of approximately US$117
For NZ, UK, CA & US Passport holders there is no fee applicable.
For all other nationalities and longer stays please contact the relevant embassy.
Please bear in mind that visas may be required for countries you are visiting en route or transiting through on the way to your destination. It is important that you check the requirements of all countries you will visit. Visa costs and requirements do change regularly so we suggest you check with your travel agent or Rogue Adventures reservations consultant. It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary visas.
The adventures featured in our brochures, and on our website, are just a starting point for many of our private group travelers. Working closely with our Groups Department we can organise custom designed itineraries for groups of friends, clubs, charity’s, schools or even work colleagues. Our team will assist you with all aspects of your private group adventure from itinerary design to group flights. Contact our team today.
