Well stocked BC
With the help of Manuel, we stock provisions in BC for an extended wait for good weather
Southeast Face of Cerro Castillo
View of South and East aspects of Cerro Castillo
Crossing the Bergshrund
Joan climbs the cone of snow leading into the couloir.
First Meters
We climb steep snow into the gully
Lower Gully
Joan leads quckly with good snow conditions.
Preparing for Bivi
We spend a night mid height on a small snow ledge.
Short mixed steps
Clearing some short mixed steps, the gully continues upwards.
Leaving the bivouac
Joan climbs towards me from our bivi on the small snow shelf behind him.
Narrow section
We climb through a narrow section of the couloir
80 degree step
Joan negotiates the 80 degree step
The couloir widens
The gully widens in sections, but is always exposed to snow falling from the walls above us
Good snow
On the second day we make rapid progress on good snow covered ice
Final Rock Tower
Joan climbs the last difficult pitch of rock to the highest summit of the peak.
New Zealand Camp
We descend down gullies on the North side to the New Zealand Camp in the trees where we bivi a second night.
Good to see Manuel!
Manuel comes to meet us as we descend the New Zealand Camp Valley