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Location :
Cerro Plomo can be seen from almost everywhere in Santiago. Its white cap is easy to spot. Due to its good access and easy route it is very popular among starting climbers. It is also the closest 5000 m mountain to Santiago. Located east-north-east from Santiago, north of the La Parva and Farellones ski centres. First ascent: Gustav Brandt and Rudolph Lucke, 1898 Best Season: December to March Difficulty: High altitude mountaineering. Use of crampons can be necessary. The huge altitude gain (Santiago: 600 m, Base Camp: 4200 m, Summit: 5400 m) requires fitness. How to get there: The walk starts from the La Parva ski resort. In summer it is possible to reach the highest ski lift (Piuquenes) by car. No regular public transportation in summer. Hitchhiking is a good way. Depart from the junction of Av. Las Condes and Camino a Farellones. Foto: Taken from Mauricio Purto's Cumbres de Chile (File 15) |
| Route : From La Parva walk up to a
ridge to the east at +- 3600 m. From there follow the trail to Piedra Numerada
along the eastern slopes of Cerro La Parva and Pintor. From there continue
north along the Molina valley and river, gaining altitude to finally reach
(after 5 to 6 hours) "La Olla", El Plomo Base Camp.
Starting from BC to the summit is along the trail that heads up east (to the right looking at the mountain) of a big snowfield. At 4600 there is an old, destroyed hut. The walk is on scree and loose rock on a well marked trail. At 5100 is "Pirca del Indio", a shelter or bivouac.From here one needs to cross the less steep snowfield to the northwest in order to reach the summit after two more hours. In total it should take from 4 to 7 hours from "La Olla". Schedule:
It is possible to reach La Olla from Santiago, do the summit the next
day and come back the same day, but it requires very good physical condition.
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Gear: Camping, Ice Axe, Water and windproof (-resistant) shoes and clothing. Expect extreme cold (with windchill down to -20 ºC). Foto: Norberto Seebach |