Vallecitos View

Ascent of Cerro Plata

In this case, my friend Federico Mariel and I embarked on the expedition from the ranger station, where it's necessary to register for free and inform them about your itinerary.

On the first day, we camped outdoors at Veguitas Camp (3200 m), as the wind gusts were very intense, and we decided not to set up the tent to avoid damage.

Veguitas Camp (3200 m)

The second day, we advanced to the upper Veguitas camp (3450 m), situated at the foot of two mountains known as Cerro Adolfo Calle (4270 m) and Cerro Stepanek (4120 m). To tackle a challenge like Cerro Plata, it's crucial to undergo prior acclimatization for several days to adapt the body to the altitude. We opted for these aforementioned mountains as goals to acclimate properly.

That day, we ascended a trail heading west until reaching "La Canchita," an area where access to the two summits is possible. From there, we chose to take the trail that veered south to climb Cerro Adolfo Calle. After enjoying the views for a while, we descended to the camp through loose rocky terrain.

The next day, we repeated the route but this time, at "La Canchita," we headed north to climb Cerro Stepanek.

Cerro Adolfo Calle summit (4270 m)

Cerro Stepanek summit  (4120 m)

On the fourth day, we decided to begin the hike after noon to have time to rest in the morning. This section of the trek is 4.5 km with an ascent of 1000 meters and ends at Salto de Agua camp (4350 m), where camping is allowed.

Piedra Grande: Path to Salto de Agua Camp

Salto de Agua Camp (4300 m)

On the fifth day, we were mainly dedicated to resting. We only did a short hike to "La Hoyada" Camp (4700 m) to acclimatize our bodies to higher altitudes.

The forecast for the sixth day promised ideal conditions to reach the summit of the highest mountain in the frontal range. Although we initially planned to depart at 6:30 a.m., we decided to delay our departure by an hour to allow the sun to warm the atmosphere and thus avoid the morning cold.

The stretch from Salto de Agua camp to the summit of Cerro Plata is 6.5 km with an ascent of 1620 meters. After passing La Hoyada camp, we headed to the Col between Cerro Plata and Cerro Vallecitos (5200 m) and took the trail southwest. From there, the path gradually ascends to the crest of the north face of Cerro Plata. Here, the terrain becomes steeper and leads us to a false summit where we found a crashed helicopter abandoned many years ago. After passing the helicopter, only 30 meters of ascent remain to reach the magnificent summit of Cerro Plata.

La Hoyada

Cerro Plata - Cerro Vallecitos Col

Crashed helicopter near the summit

It's a very long and challenging hike, requiring a lot of concentration and attention to any symptoms of altitude sickness we may experience. It's very easy to make poor decisions if you're not prepared. This site is extremely remote, and there are many factors that can cause fatal accidents. It's important to remember that the weather conditions during our ascent were optimal, without snow, wind, and not too cold. That's why this time we decided to forgo technical equipment for snowy terrain.

We reached the summit at 2:30 p.m., and by 5:30 p.m., we were back at Salto de Agua camp. The next day, we began the return journey to the ski resort where we had left the vehicle.

Cerro Plata Summit (5970 m)

Recommendations:

To undertake an expedition like this, it is crucial to achieve thorough acclimatization beforehand. I suggest setting lower altitude goals beforehand to ensure optimal oxygenation.

It is essential to pay close attention to the weather forecast to avoid being caught off guard by storms, strong winds, sudden snowfalls, or other phenomena that could compromise our safety.

We must also carefully consider the time of year we plan to visit the park. If we opt for a winter expedition, the mandatory use of technical safety equipment for traversing snowy terrain, such as ice axes and crampons, will be necessary.

I recommend developing a risk management plan that allows us to determine when a planned activity is no longer safe and requires abandoning the expedition.

Above all, if you lack sufficient experience, I suggest hiring a local and professional trekking guide to undertake such demanding expeditions. Hiring a guide ensures that the expedition is meticulously planned and entirely safe. The guide knows details about the terrain and weather that can even guarantee the success of the project. Additionally, it frees us from concerns such as food, water, and accommodation. Most local guides offer packages that include all these services.