Cerro Torre

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Cerro Torre
Cerro Torre in 1987
Elevation	3,128 metres (10,280 feet)
Location	Patagonia, Argentina, Chile (disputed)^[1]
Range	Andes
Coordinates	49°17′34″S, 73°05′54″W
First ascent	Disputed (see text)
Easiest route	rock/snow/ice

Cerro Torre is one of the most spectacular mountains of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in South America. It is located in a region which is disputed between Argentina and Chile^[1], west of Cerro Chalten (also known as Fitz Roy). The peak is the highest in a four mountain chain: the other peaks are Torre Egger, Punta Herron, and Cerro Stanhardt. The top of the mountain often has a mushroom of rime ice, formed by the constant strong winds, increasing the difficulty of reaching the actual summit.

1 First ascent
2 In popular culture
3 References
4 External links

[edit] First ascent

Cesare Maestri claimed in 1959 that he and Toni Egger had reached the summit and that Egger had been swept to his death by an avalanche while they were descending. However, inconsistencies in Maestri's account, and the lack of bolts, pitons or fixed ropes on the route has led most mountaineers to doubt Maestri's claim.^[2] Only in 2005, after many attempts by world-class Alpinists, was a confirmed route put up on the face that Maestri claimed to have climbed.^[3]

The first undisputed ascent is that by Daniele Chiappa, Mario Conti, Casimiro Ferrari, and Pino Negri in 1974..^[3]

In 1977 the first Alpine style ascent was completed by Dave Carman, John Bragg and Jay Wilson. They spent a week summiting Cerro Torre which had previously taken the Italian group two months to summit..^[3]

[edit] In popular culture

Cerro Torre was featured in the 1991 film Scream of Stone, directed by Werner Herzog and starring Donald Sutherland.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b From Rodrigo Jordan, "Cerro Torre", in World Mountaineering, Audrey Selkeld, editor, Bulfinch Press, ISBN 0-8212-2502-2, p. 156: Cerro Torre rises "on the border between Chile and Argentina." However Chile and Argentina have long-standing border disputes.
^ Rolando Garibotti. A mountain unveiled: a revealing analysis of Cerro Torre’s tallest tale. American Alpine Club.
^ ^a ^b ^c Alpinist Magazine, Issue 16