Mountain: Cerro Castillo
Route: East Face
Country: Chile
Height: 2675 Meters/8776 feet
Dates of Expedition: October 2008
Overview of climb: Cerro Castillo was relatively off the beaten track when Joan and I decided to visit the area. We had little knowledge of the mountain and surrounding area. However, a friend from Spain knew the area and provided us with valuable information about the East Face while we were at his home in Santiago.
Team Members: Joan Sole Roviroso, Carlos Buhler
Lasting Impression:
Cerro Castillo was not a popular place for foreign climbers when we went there in 2008. But the volcanic plug offered us a wonderful climb through a natural gully that had previously not been completed. According to the Chilean climbing community, it had seen attempts before ours. Our ascent was accomanied by good luck with the weather and the help of a local family and arriero who made our stay in the area exceptionally efficient and enjoyable. I was skepticcal of losing time on the last pitch to the true summit block after finishing the East Face. But Joan rose to the challenge and led to the highest of the two summits from the col between them, a stiff 5.8-9 alpine pitch in mountain boots.
