AGUJA VOLONQUI (ca. 2200m)

COLMILLOS & PIZARRA

ESCONDIDA

The ridge north of Cerro Rincon has five distinct granite summits, the three Colmillos, Sur, Central and Norte, a sharp fin like tower called Pizarra Escondida and the northern most and higher summit called Aguja Volonqui.

The late Hector Vieytes, a renowned Argentine climber and sleeping bag manufacturer, was responsible for naming Volonqui. For almost two decades until his death in 1994, Vieytes was the host of many international expeditions when they passed through Buenos Aires heading to Patagonia. In 1977 Rab Carrington, who narrowly missed the first ascent of Volonqui in 1976, spent several months in Buenos Aires working with Vieytes. When he returned to the UK he used his newly acquired skills to start the company Rab, a very successful clothing and gear company these days.

AGUJA VOLONQUI

1 Carrington - Rouse. Englishmen Alan Rouse and Rab Carrington climbed to within two meters of Aguja Volonqui's summit in December of 1976. They climbed the east face and south ridge. From the Marconi glacier they negotiated a heavily crevassed glacier to reach a wide couloir to the left of the peak’s east buttress. This led to a col overlooking the Ice cap and to the south ridge, which they followed to the summit. The climbing from the col to the top involved nine or ten pitches of ice and mixed climbing, leading to a final two-meter tall mushroom, which the first ascensionists deemed too unstable to climb. They needed 20 rappels to descend.

2 El Lobito. In late 2013 Colin Haley (US) and Sarah Hart (CA) completed an ascent of the peak via a new route immediately left of the east ridge. They climbed an enjoyable ice and mixed line with some steepsnow, some moderate mixed climbing, one pitch of steep ice, a bunch of mellowice, and one pitch of tricky thin ice. The hardest climbing was the lastpitch (M5), which involved one move of A0 pulling on a cam, and then amantel onto the ridge just 10 meters horizontally away from the summit boulder.They descended the Carrington-Rouse route via a combination of rappelling anddown-climbing. They named their route “El Lobito” (400m, AI4+ M5 A0) and highly recommend it. The name refers to one of El Chaltén's many, far too many dogs. Lobito is a moody creature that can be extremely friendly at times and then bite fiercely other times. 

3 Chorblito. In early 2016 Jonathan Schaffer and Joel Kauffman climbed “Chorblito”, 14 pitches with difficulties to WI4 and M7. Chorblito, is a word that describes the act of smoking weed all day, talking shit, chilling.

TORRE VOLONQUI

4 Voluntad y Cuidado. This is a small tower to the north of Aguja Volonqui. In 2016, Stefan Gatt, Andreas Reinhardt and Markus Stockert (AT) did the first ascent climbing a line from the east, around the north side and up the west side. They climbed five pitches: 35m 5+, 25m 5, 40m 6b (can be bypassed via an easy gully), 75m easy, 35m 6b+. Gear to #3.

PIZARRA ESCONDIDA

5 Alfajores, Chauras y demas. In mid March 2014 Erich and Stefan Gatt (AT) climbed the fin like tower between Colmillo Norte and Aguja Volonqui christening it Pizarra Escondida. Their route which they called "Alfajores, chauras y demás" follows the Carrington-Rouse to right below the ridge (300m to 60˚) to then head left to the col, climbing two pitches on the east face of the tower (30m 6b, 30m 6b A2) to reach the summit. They rappelled the route.

COLMILLO NORTE

6 Filo Norte. In August 2013 (winter) Hervé Barmasse (IT), Martin Castrillo and Pedro Fina (AR) did the first ascent of Colmillos Norte and Central. They climbed from the north and traverse from one to the other.

COLMILLO CENTRAL

7 Filo Norte. In August 2013 (winter) Hervé Barmasse (IT), Martin Castrillo and Pedro Fina (AR) did the first ascent of Colmillos Norte and Central. They climbed from the north and traverse from one to the other.

8 Mantetang. In late 2015 Nicola Castagna, Jacopo Pellizari and Francesco Salvaterra (IT) climbed Colmillo Central from the east and south. They climbed three pitches in the couloir leading to the col and then another four to the summit, encountering difficulties to 55˚ and M4. They named their route Mantetang.

COLMILLO SUR

In 2015 Castagna, Pellizari and Salvaterra made an attempt in the centre of the east face of Colmillo Sur but retreated after two pitches when they found very hard aid.

9 Anonima Sequestri. Also in late 2015, Salvaterra with Luca Bianco, Marcello Cominetti and Giacomo Deiana (IT) climbed the north arete, doing the first ascent of the peak. They climbed four pitches to the col, and another four up the arete, finding difficulties to M6/90°. The last pitch involved vertical rime climbing, ice-axe wings were used. They christened the route "Anonima sequestri". The name refers to the loose band of criminals that between the 1960s and until the 90s, carried out kidnapings and other criminal acts in Sardinia. Unlike the Mafia or Cossa Nostra, this was not an organized group, but rather an association of independent criminals all acting under the same rules, a centuries old honor code. Amongst many others, "Anonima sequestri" kidnapped Fabrizio de Andre, an Italian singer song writer, whose song "Ho Visto Nina Volare" is the basis for the route name "Mastica e Sputa" on Cerro Pollone.

10 Califlores. Tad McCrea and Jonathan Griffin climbed a new route on the east face and south ridge of Colmillo Sur. “Califlores” climbs 350 meters of vertical gain which were climbed in eight pitches. Theirs was the second ascent of Colmillo Sur. The name refers to certain Californian flowers that arrive to El Chalten disguised as spinach.

Bibliography.
Carrington-Rouse: AAJ 1978 p. 581-583; Mountain magazine 58 p. 18-21; Climbing magazine 47 p. 5-11.
Matetang & Anonima sequestri, more info here.

Photos (click to enlarge)

Aguja Volonqui and Colmillos - east

face

Aguja Volonqui - east and south face

Cerro Rincón, Colmillos and Aguja

Volonqui - northeast face