Austrian freeclimber David Lama is back in Patagonia as he continues his audacious plan to scale the Cerro Torre – a granite needle with an elevation of 3,128 metres (10,280 feet) - which is considered one of the most challenging mountains on earth...
"Now I’ve been back to Patagonia for nearly a week. And there have been no big changes – the weather is still inconsistent and the mountains are fascinating. Shortly after our arrival, my partner Peter an I made a tour to the Aguja de la S, a comparatively small butte at the beginning of the Fitz Roy mountain chain.
"As my luggage got caught in Bueno Aires, I had to climb in far too big shoes, which was of course quite challenging… Peter and I can hardly wait for appropriate weather to climb the Cerro Torre.
"Although due to our experience we can handle things more easily, there is still a big question mark left. We still don’t know if it’s really possible to climb the compressor route in free ascent… So our first aim is to get to the top, to have a look at the route and to see in which passages we might have to step aside.
"But meanwhile the weather god has to be gracious to us; as long as it’s blowing and snowing, our plans are just wishful thinking. So I while away the time here in El Chalten with bouldering, fishing and a difficult trad-route project at a big boulder near Chalten. Last year I just failed, so we’ll see…
"The weather forecast for the next few days isn’t that bad! More (hopefully good) news will be following."
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