Trekking in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary - Plane of the Uruguayans

Proposal

A story that shocked the world...

On Friday October 13th 1972, a Uruguayan plane, carrying 45 passengers to Chile, many of whom were students and players from a rugby team, crashed in the Andes Mountains.
Twelve died from the impact and those who survived had to endure, among other things, the fearsome Cordillera with its thirty degrees below zero at night and the scarcity of food reserves.
Finally fed up with the very low temperatures, the threatening avalanches and anguished by the continuous death of their companions and the slow wait for rescue, two of them decide to cross the immense mountains to reach Chile.
On December 22nd of that same year, after having remained isolated from everything for 72 days, the world learns that sixteen defeated death. These events gave rise to the book and later to the film "Alive". Our tour invites you to visit this miraculous place that, on the other hand, has a very important landscape content.

Dates 2024 / 2025

Programs with overnight stay at the Memorial + Place of Impact option (4 days)

December: 20 to 23 (anniversary date)
January: 17 to 20
February: 7 to 10
March: 1 to 4 (Carnival Holiday) and 22 to 25
Horseback riding: Same dates as the classic trekking program.

Itinerary

Day 1: Meeting in El Sosneado at 8.30 am. Quick equipment check + presentation of guides. Transfer by vehicle to the west along the route that leads to the Soler and National Gendarmería shelter. Passing by the old abandoned thermal hotel, we will reach the Araya cattle station. Start of trekking. This day we will walk to the El Barroso base camp. We will first cross the Atuel River, on foot or with the help of horses. March lunch. Arrival at camp. Snack, dinner, rest.

Estimated walking time: 7 hours.
Elevation: 350 meters in total ascent (500 meters in ascent / 150 meters in descent)
Starting height: 2200 masl
Camp height: 2550 masl.

Day 2: Early departure to the Las Lágrimas Glacier. This day's journey will be the most demanding, since after three hours of walking we will cross the Río de Las Lagrimas and then we will ascend for two and a half extra hours to the site where the remains of the plane are located, at 3600 meters above sea level. We will silently pay our tribute to the victims, and then reconnoitre the place. Setting up the camp very close to the Memorial. Dinner and overnight.

Estimated walking time: 7 hours one way, 5 hours back. Total = 12 hours.
Elevation: 1050 meters in ascent and 1050 meters in descent.
Starting height: 2550 masl
Maximum height: 3600 masl
Camp height: 3550 masl

Day 3: Options of the day (according to weather conditions, the group and the guides' decisions). 1: Very early departure towards the edge. This day's journey will be very hard as we will continue the ascent along a long haul of rocks until we reach the final ridge, at 4100 meters high. We will pass through a summit and walk along a long ridge to the great gendarmes. There we will stop to observe the place where the plane impacted in October 1972. Then we will return to the camp and from there again to the El Barroso camp. 2: Tour along the glacier where the fuselage was left and to the base of the wall where Parrado and Canesa began to climb to cross into Chile.

Then, we disassembled camp and descended to the base camp of El Barroso. Night at El Barroso camp.

Estimated walking time in option 1: 8 hours + 4 hours back to Barroso.
Elevation: 900 meters ascent.
Starting height: 3550 masl
Maximum height: 4450 masl
Final camp height: 2550 masl

Day 4: Breakfast and camp disassembly. We will walk back and descend to the Araya Post. Return to El Sosneado. End of our services. Homecoming.

Estimated walking time: 6 hours.
Elevation: 350 meters in total descent (500 meters in descent / 150 meters in ascent)
Starting height: 2550 masl
Final height: 2200 masl

Elevation Profile

Included Services

Local transfer to and from El Sosneado.
Professional mountain guides.
Mandatory entry and ascent permit in the Valley of Tears.
Full board in the mountains (breakfast, energy drinks, lunch, snacks, dinner).
General kitchen equipment (pots, heaters).
Equipment and main first aid kit.
Communication equipment for emergencies: VHF, Satellite Telephone or Spot Monitoring.
Bedroom tents.
Previous informative meetings.
Personal accident insurance.
Assistance and permanent coordination.

Services NOT included

Trip to El Sosneado
Expenses caused by abandoning the program
Equipment porterage
Lunch on the last day (we recommend the Parador's homemade ham sandwiches)
Tips

Lunch: Milanesa and tomato sandwiches, cold sandwiches, snacks, salads, tapas, etc.
Dinners: Vegetable stews with bacon or chorizo; chicken and vegetable casseroles, pasta with various , barbacue (goat), Chaw Fan, chicken with rice among other meals
Breakfasts and snacks: Tea, Coffee, Cappuccino, Mate Cocido, Mate, Milk powder; bread, cookies, jam, honey, dulce de leche; cereals, fruit.

It is necessary to complete the personal / medical file to clarify if someone does not eat some type of food.

Where to sleep

In mountain tents with the assistance of tents with tables and chairs, at the base camp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be trained?

For any mountain activity you need to have a previous physical preparation, or be physically active. In this case we suggest training (jogging twice to three times a week, cycling or swimming) and doing a good leg workout (gym, crossfit, etc.)

Do I need to have previous experience?

We recommend walking at least once before this trekking with a backpack, although no previous experience is required. Having slept in a tent also helps as a experience for this trekking.

How much does the backpack weigh?

In a woman backpack, from 8 to 10 kilos, in a man from 10 to 12 kilos.

Where do we spend the night?

Overnight is spent in mountain campsite in igloo tents, comfortable and for 2/3 or 4 people.

Do I have to carry a tent?

The tents are included in the service. If you want to bring yours, ask us.

Are there any breaks to rest?

Stops are given with a frequency and graduation according to the intensity. There are breaks for lunch, snack, and rest.

How old do I have to be to do this activity?

From 13 years old onwards. We also recommend you to contact us before registering or registering a minor just to make sure that his/her experience is the suitable for this trek.

What is the weather like?

Even though we visit the area in summer, temperatures tend to fall at night. Easily dropping to 0 degrees Celcious / 32 Farenheit

How can I get to El Sosneado?

By car: After San Rafael city, at 140 kms away, you will arrive to Parador El Chacallal, on route 144. You can leave your car over here during the days of the trek. GPS coordinates: -35.080516, -69.582824

By plane: There are daily services to San Rafael city but the schedules do not usually suit our departing time. For that reason you must spend the previous night in San Rafael and on the following day, you should take the bus service CATA INTERNACIONAL to El Sosneado. (Check with us the issuance of tickets and reservations)

What do we eat?

Lunch: Milanesa and tomato sandwiches, cold sandwiches, snacks, salads, tapas, etc.
Dinners: Vegetable stews with bacon or chorizo; chicken and vegetable casseroles, pasta with various , barbacue (goat), Chaw Fan, chicken with rice among other meals
Breakfasts and snacks: Tea, Coffee, Cappuccino, Mate Cocido, Mate, Milk powder; bread, cookies, jam, honey, dulce de leche; cereals, fruit.

It is necessary to complete the personal / medical file to clarify if someone does not eat some type of food.

Difficulty Graduation System

Click on each indicator to see details

60%

Backpack (M)

Backpack: Weight / Duration of the Day.

Clic para detalles

80%

Physical (F)

Physical demand

Clic para detalles

40%

Technical (T)

Technician: Difficulty in the Field / Equipment.

Clic para detalles

60%

Psycho (P)

Psychological Strength

Clic para detalles

60%

Height (A)

Height Exposure

Clic para detalles

How to interpret these values?

Each aspect is evaluated from 20% to 100%, where:

20-40%: Basic or beginner level
60%: Intermediate level
80-100%: Advanced or expert level

Recommended for intermediate level

Previous experience and good physical condition required.

Required equipment

GENERAL EQUIPMENT *** (If this equipment is not available, the guides reserve the right to participate in the trekking)

Trekking-expedition backpack (60 to 80 litres) *** - Note on backpacks: CLICK HERE
Sleeping bag for trekking (ext temp from 0 to -5°) (eg 600 gs. of down or good synthetic). ***
Insulating mat (10 to 15mm). ***
A pair of trekking poles ***
Physically Fit*** (where your GP indicates that you are fit to perform this activity).
Water-resistant plastic bags to store all the clothes inside the backpack.

CLOTHING

Socks: several pairs of trekking
Underwear
1 pair of trekking boots (in conditions) ***. (Keep in mind that on the December date there is snow above)
1 second pair of light shoes to wade (cross rivers) and get wet. Running type - (NO CROCS - NO SANDALS) ***
Long trekking pants (NO JEAN)
Long interior pants or leggings (not mandatory)
Dry fit synthetic short-sleeved t-shirts
Long sleeve shirt
Coats: Fleece jacket and duvet jacket (feather)
Waterproof jacket (ideal also breathable and windproof) ***
1 sun hat (with flaps)
1 bandana to cover the neck from the sun (multifunction bandanas type Buff)
Warm gloves.
Warm hat

PERSONAL ELEMENTS

Passport/ID
Travel Medical insurance

OTHER ELEMENTS

Headlamp with batteries (Batteries). ***
Mountain sunglasses.
Sunscreen (not less than factor 45). Lip balm
Toilet paper. Handkerchiefs
Baby wipes.

KITCHEN FOR PERSONAL USE

Water containers for at least 2 liters (it can be a plastic bottle)
Cutlery / Plate or tupperware (not glass or aluminum) / Plastic or ceramic glass or jar (not glass or aluminum).

OPTIONAL, not mandatory (see space and weight)