Climbing Through the Southern Patagonian Ice Fields

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This fantastic sight features just a part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, which has been the ice-climber’s mecca for years.

LOCATION

Southern Patagonian Ice Field, world’s second largest contiguous extra polar ice field, is the remnant of the Patagonian Ice Sheet, which has been the consequence of the last glacial period.

It lies between Argentina and Chile extending to 220 miles with an over-all area of 4,773 square miles.

CLIMATE

The climate here is – of course – cold, cold, and cold! And the coldness gets even more extreme as the elevation increases.

However, it seems that it is not enough for these ice fields as they continue to shrink at an alarming rate mostly due to the global warming.

TRANSPORTATION

Even just the journey going to Southern Patagonian Ice Field isn’t for the faint-hearted. It is 5,000 miles away from the USA and 8, 000 miles from UK. Since the ice field lies between Chile and Argentina and Chile, you have two choices: you can board the Santiago International Airport for travelling to Chilean Patagonia or the Ezeiza International Airport for the Argentine Patagonia.

You can have a stopover at these major cities; however, going straight to Patagonia is a cheaper option. There are number of planes that will carry you to Patagonia; on the other hand, travelling overland is also a good option if you have lots of time.

You can travel through ferries or public buses that have comfortable accommodations that frequents beautiful landscapes. The journey overland will usually take a day or more.

ATTRACTIONS

The Four Southern Patagonian Peaks

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The four Southern Patagonian peaks are the chief attraction here. It attracts adventure-seekers like bees to a honey. The tallest of the peak is the Cerro Torre with an elevation of 10,262 ft.

It requires high-skills of ice climbing. It gets harder as you near the top as the ice-rimmed Cerro Torre gets even steeper with strong winds battering you high above.

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Torre Egger is the second highest peak of the four mountain chains with an elevation of 902 ft; however, the few hundred feet less does not remove it from being a daunting prospect. The Punta Herron, and Cerro Standhardt are the other two snow-hugged summit in this chain of mountains.

It is true that professional alpinists and other thrill-seekers went here to sample the danger and the satisfaction one can only feel in conquering nature, but in between the ride to airport and the climb to the summits is another dream landscape that will make you wonder for the Creator of such masterpiece.

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Images:

(1) http://www.mikereyfman.com/Photography-Landscape-Nature/Fitzroy-Cerro-Torre-Perito-Moreno-Patagonia-Argentina/photos/MR0101.jpg
(2) http://image2.redbull.com/rbcom/010/2015-05-04/1331720936284_2/0010/1/800/533/2/cerro-torre-west-ridge-patagonia.jpg
(3) http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2014-06/9/14/enhanced/webdr06/enhanced-32055-1402338305-1.jpg