Patagonia Suprema by Above the Clouds, Inc.

Sample Patagonia Itinerary:

Patagonia Suprema

PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com

The Art of Adventure Travel

Patagonia Suprema Prior to the opening of the airport in Calafate in December 2000 it would have been impossible to imagine an itinerary in Patagonia as short, compact, and complete as this. While the focus of this itinerary is on the world class jagged summits found throughout Los Glaciares National Park, we have also included some lesser known jewels of Patagonia that see very few visitors even today. Upon arrival into Patagonia, the first stop is the remote and wild Estancia El Condor. From here you’ll begin your sequence of day hikes and start to feel connected to the rhythm of this special place. After a few days exploring the banks of Lago San Martin, you’ll head off to the adventure capital of the region. El Chalten, the small town set at the very foot of Monte FitzRoy, lies in the very heart of Los Glaciares National Park. Your time here in the Chalten area are focused on the four day crossing Circuit of Cerro Huemul. This is by far the hardest physical challenge of the itinerary and in return of your hard work will pay in stupendous views of the glacier, lake and mountains all around you. From Helsingfors we have a full day hike up to Laguna Azul, a beautiful lake set atop the mountains ringing the estancia. Many of our trekkers note this hike as the highlight of their trip to Patagonia, even given the spectacular hikes that precede our time in this area. Our hike takes us up the Milodon River, over the Milodon pass and to the lake itself. We are treated here to spectacular views of Laguna Azul, its adjoining glacier and idyllic mountain scenery. Finally, we continue back down to Estancia Helsingfors, completing our circuit. The finale to your adventure in Patagonia includes the non-technical ascent of Cerro Buenos Aires or Cerro Cristal, both of which offer incredible views of the unearthly landscapes found very few other places in the world. You’ll top it all of with a night in Buenos Aires (more if you’d like) before heading back north and home after an adventure of a lifetime! PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com

Patagonia Suprema: DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY: 01: Depart USA en route to Buenos Aires. You have quite a few options for flight paths and we are more than happy to recommend a travel agent or assist you in making your own plans. 02: Arrive Buenos Aires. You'll be met on arrival and transferred to the domestic terminal for your next flight to El Calafate. This is where you’ll be met by your guide and escorted to your hotel in town time to stretch your legs and get familiar with your new surroundings. El Quijote. 03: After breakfast this morning you’ll be met by your now familiar guide and driver and escorted to Estancia El Condor on the shores of Lago San Martin. Drive time is about 5 hours. Sunset is approximately 11:30pm. Argentines eat very late, and, today at least, so will you - which after a drive and an afternoon walk around the property will be very welcome. Altitude of the lake is 950’. Estancia El Condor. 04:!Today you’ll hike along the southern shore of Lago San Martin, with dramatic lake and mountain views throughout the day. In mid-afternoon you’ll arrive at Puesto La Nana, the site of the homestead of Jimmy Radbone, known locally as El Jimmy. An excellent out of print book, El Jimmy, Outlaw of Patagonia, would make good reading prior to your departure. This is remote Patagonia at its best, tucked right up against the Chilean border. Tonight you’ll sleep in the loft of the small hut built here to accommodate trekkers, in your sleeping bags. Your guide will prepare and serve dinner. Puesto Lanana (Camp). 05:!You’ll hike back to Estancia El Condor today. Dinner and overnight at the estancia. Estancia El Condor. 06:!You’ll be driven around the mountain after breakfast to El Chalten, the trekking and climbing capital of Patagonia (population 1300). You’ll arrive in time to do a short hike to a lookout point above the hotel from where you have a great frontal view of Cerro Torre. El Puma. 07: The first day of the Circuit of Cerro Huemul takes us gradually up for most of the morning, with the afternoon being an easy stroll to our camp in a small beech forest. Tented camp. The Art of Adventure Travel

5 08: This morning’s walk is all uphill, and most of it is steep on a glacier or trail strewn with boulders. It all begins with stream crossings, which will require water shoes or sturdy sandals such as Tevas or Chacos. The water isn’t deep but it is very cold, having been glacial ice just moments ago. We’ll have lunch just before arriving at Windy Pass, in a sheltered area. From the pass we have dramatic views of the Patagonian Ice Cap, also called the Continental Ice Field, and the massive mountains rising directly out of the center of the Ice Cap. We drop down steeply to the edge of the Ice Cap and walk on a flat trail to our tented camp beside a small hut helicoptered in here years ago by Argentine archaeologists studying the Ice Cap. 09:!!Today is a weather day. If either of the two previous days were raining, thereby preventing hiking, this buffer day enables us to complete the trek on schedule. If we haven’t had any weather days yet, we’ll take a day to go out to the edge of the Ice Cap and, donning simple crampons on our boots (we provide these), take a short hike atop the Ice Cap. Same camp. Alternately, you may decide to keep trekking today, which will give you an extra day in El Chalten on the 17th. 10:!Today’s hike is the longest and hardest day of the trek. The morning is quite easy as we contour our way along the edge of the Viedma Glacier. After lunch we sidle our way up a long and sometimes steep mountain to our second and final pass, also around 5,000’. Here we say good-bye to the Ice Cap views and get bird’s eye views of Lago Viedma. The hike down to camp is short but challenging, taking us through thick brush with no trail. This is probably the most dramatic campsite in all of Patagonia, perched atop a sheer cliff of over 1,000’ that drops directly down to Viedma Lake and Glacier. PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com

11: After breakfast you’ll drop down steeply to the lake shore and wait for your pick up by a boat headed to the snout of the Viedma Glacier. You’ll take a short hike atop and beneath the glacier, then take the boat to Bahia El Tunel. From there your waiting vehicle will take you to back to the now familiar El Chalten and the welcome return to your hosteria. El Puma. 12: Early this morning you will depart this morning on your drive to Estancia Helsingfors, set at the very end of the road, right on Lago Viedma. The drive will take you through areas frequented by a variety of birds and other wildlife and culminates with a stretch of road from which you will get an excellent view of Estancia Helsingfors itself, beautifully framed by the mountains and myriad hued Lago Viedma. The estancia is thoroughly charming and its location superb. Estancia Helsingfors. 13:!Today’s hike is a fitting finale to your series of walks & crossings, taking you directly up into the mountains that tower above Helsingfors. One trekker described this unique hike as not only the highlight of his trip but as the highlight of his life’s travels. Near the top of the peaks sits an exquisite little lake, Laguna Azul, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and a hanging glacier. Weather permitting, we will be treated to views of Fitz Roy rising behind the expansive, teal waters of Lago Viedma for most of the hike. We begin at Estancia Los Hermanos, following the Milodon River upstream to Milodon Pass. After circling the lake we begin our descent to Estancia Helsingfors, completing our circuit there in time for dinner. 14:!After breakfast you’ll head out of the wilderness back to your hotel in El Calafate, a comfortable setting for our farewell to Patagonia. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the town. El Quijote. 15:! Today is your last adventure in Patagonia and is an appropriate end for a trip of this magnitude. You’ll set off early for our non-technical ascent of Cerro Buenos Aires (5,157’), where magnificent views await us: to the northwest, Monte FitzRoy, to the southwest lie the peaks of Paine, and immediately below us is the massive river of ice known as the Perito Moreno Glacier. After a picnic lunch on top, we descend back down to the road and drive the short distance to the airport in Calafate for our early evening flight to Buenos Aires, arriving just before midnight. Where you’ll be met and escorted to your hotel (TBD). 16: Depending on the time of your flight home, you’ll be escorted to the airport as needed. End of Services. The Art of Adventure Travel

COSTING & NOTES: (Patagonia Suprema) Land Cost: $9,350 per person ! **Based on a group of 2-4 and double sharing throughout. ! **Costs are estimated until dates are established

Included in Land Cost: All listed nights at indicated accommodations, breakfast throughout, all required entry/permit fees, private guide, car and driver for all indicated transfers & services.

Not Included in Land Cost: International nor Domestic Airfare, tips to guide and driver, bottled beverages with your meals, travel/ trip/medical evacuation insurance, shopping, laundry, all airfare, telephone, shopping and other items of a personal nature. PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com

The Art of Adventure Travel