Hiking The The 4 Mountain Huts Trekking Traverse (Bariloche)

[Joly]

Hello,

Has anyone hiked the 4 mountain huts trekking traverse near Bariloche. Start at Cerro Catedral on to Refugio Frey then Refugio Jakob (San Martin) then Refugio Laguna Negra en last Refugio Lopez. It is a medium to difficult hike and 4-9 hours daily.
I am looking for information about this hike, planning to go in December. Do we need a guide or just good maps and is it well marked?
Thanks J

 

[Slopey]

Club Andino Bariloche is the mountaineering organization that set up most of the refugios in the area, and have detailed maps and information about the routes. Try calling them, or take a look at their website on www.clubandino.org
I think you're also required to check in with them before and after the hike so they can keep a record of how many people are climbing in case of any emergencies.

 

[ajoknoblauch]

Hello,

Has anyone hiked the 4 mountain huts trekking traverse near Bariloche. Start at Cerro Catedral on to Refugio Frey then Refugio Jakob (San Martin) then Refugio Laguna Negra en last Refugio Lopez. It is a medium to difficult hike and 4-9 hours daily.
I am looking for information about this hike, planning to go in December. Do we need a guide or just good maps and is it well marked?
Thanks J

Depending on this winter's snowfall, December could be a little early in some spots. I've even been in February whiteouts in Villa La Angostura.

 

[jez]

That route is called the Nahuel Huapi Traverse. Check out my (non commercial) website: http:www.trekbariloche.com it should have all the information you are looking for. It's much more up to date and comprehensive than the www.clubandino.org website. If you have any further questions after reading through the site, feel free to ask me here on this forum or via the contact email on the website.

Nahuel Huapi Traverse page: http://www.trekbariloche.com/nahuel-huapi-traverse.php

My Trek Bariloche Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/trekbariloche

 

[GS_Dirtboy]

Jez, is there technical climbing on this route (ropes and protection)? Or is this a boots / crampons type of trek?

 

[jez]

Jez, is there technical climbing on this route (ropes and protection)? Or is this a boots / crampons type of trek?

The route isn't technical (during the summer) so no ropes or protection needed. The section between Refugio Jakob and Laguna Negra has a section of scrambling and it is advised to only attempt it in good weather conditions and in the direction Refugio Jakob to Laguna Negra and not the other way round. The national park office requires as well as the obligatory (free) trekking register, that you signer a 'waiver of responsibility' before completing this section. It is also expected that you report to the warden at Refugio Jakob to let him/her know your intention to do the route, I believe they will radio through to Laguna Negra so they know to expect you. There will no doubt be people who just turn up and do it without having signed the waiver or registered their trek...

In winter it's a different story, a steep technical snow ice ascent where technical equipment will be required: iceaxe crampons, ropes etc.. and of course the snow will cover the painted trail markers and the route isn't obvious..... The National Park office will also be able to inform you of when the trail is actually open (ie. no snow), and this will change season to season. This year it may open earlier than normal as we currently have such little snow in Bariloche.

The Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonia Andes (2009 edition) describes this section as follows: "following a high-level route, is harder and more hazardous than any other stages. Ideally for very experienced trekkers, it should not be attempted unless the weather is very good...."

You can see the national Parks classification (in Spanish) of the routes on this web page: http://www.nahuelhua...a.html#senderos (although the site is currently down due to having exceeded it bandwidth, it should be back up by the 1st September!!)

 

[RichardP]

Jez can confirm this, but friends in San Martin de los Andes say that it was a low snow year and the ski season was a bust. I assume it was the same in Bariloche.

 

[jez]

Jez can confirm this, but friends in San Martin de los Andes say that it was a low snow year and the ski season was a bust. I assume it was the same in Bariloche.

Yes, it's a very slow snow year. It looks like the Cerro Bayo ski resort in Villa la Angostura will close to skiers at the end of the month (article from 20th August): http://www.diarioand...ra-esquiadores/

Cerro Catedral ski resort (Bariloche) currently only has 40cm of snow at the mid point (http://www.catedrala...p?default_tab=3). There hasn't been any snow at the base for weeks...

There is a bit of snow forecast for this week at the top of the Cerro catedral:

but at the mid point its going to be a mix of rain and snow:

 

[Joly]

Thank you Jez this is really good information, do you know if we can buy the maps here in BA or do we buy them in Bariloche?

 

[jez]

Thank you Jez this is really good information, do you know if we can buy the maps here in BA or do we buy them in Bariloche?

I would just buy them when you get to Bariloche: http://www.trekbariloche.com/bariloche-maps.php
I haven't got a clue if they sell them in BA...