Chris Bonington
  • Home
  • Chris’s Blog
  • Biography
  • Picture Library
  • Shop
  • Charities
  • Contact
  • Links
  • After Everest
Follow @ChrisBonington

CHRIS'S BLOG

Chile Part 1: A Great Trip to the Atacama Desert March 2012

scroll up/down for more

I came out to Santiago in Chile to take part in “Beyond the Peaks, Celebrating 20 Years from the first Chilean ascent of Everest”, all organised by Vertical – see
www.everest20años.cl/english

 

Aldo Boitano, CEO of Vertical very kindly took me for a little trip up to the Atacama Desert.

 

Was I glad to see Aldo and his wife Claudia when I arrived in Santiago Airport on 8 March. Aldo and his wife Claudia

 
 
 
 
We immediately transferred to an internal flight up to Calimar on the edge of the Atacama Desert. Chris by the plane

 
 
 
 
Where a people carrier was awaiting us and took us the 90 minute drive to San Pedro de Atamaca. It’s one of the driest places on Earth and two of our Berghaus Athletes Anna and Philip Gatta were taking part in a gruelling 200km race in this very area. The 90 minute drive through one of the driest places on earth

 
 
 
 
Definitely not for the faint hearted but it has a savage beauty. A savage beauty

 
 
 
 
We were ‘camping’ in a wonderful eco-friendly hotel, Explora Hotel de Larache from which the next morning we ventured forth for some fun climbing. Explora Hotel de Larache

 
 
 
 
The view at dawn of Volcan Licancabur from my bedroom window was stunning. The view at dawn of Volcan Licancabur

 
 
 
 
It was an hour’s drive away in a canyon called Naciemento near the village of Socaire. The routes are all single pitch on superb Quartzite rock. They have left the cracks for the trad climbers and have put up numerous sport climbs, all of which looked really hard. There was a bit of a breeze and it was perfect t-shirt weather. The routes are all single pitch on superb Quartzite rock

 
 
 
 
Marco on the right is directer of guides for the Hotel and very kindly pointed out the climbs and joined us climbing. One of the routes was up the crack line behind us and was around 5.7. Marco on the right is directer of guides for the Hotel

 
 
 
 
Aldo in fine form. Aldo in fine form

 
 
 
 
I had a go… Chris has a go

 
 
 
 
…and then in the best Victorian tradition, our driver had a laid out a superb packed lunch. Our driver had a laid out a superb packed lunch

 
 
 
 
Not of course forgetting some vintage Chilean red wine! Chris enjoying some vintage Chilean wine

 
 
 
 
And we did manage a 5.8 after lunch, first led by Aldo!! We managed a 5.8 after lunch, first led by Aldo

 
 
 
 
That night, back at the hotel, I gave a lecture to the guides and some hotel guests of my first ascent of the Central Tower of Paine in South Patagonia, 49 years ago!!! The guides were a brilliant crowd, friendly, knowledgeable and very enthusiastic.

And that was the first day – wait for the next!!!!

The guides were a brilliant crowd, friendly, knowledgeable and very enthusiastic

 
 
 
 

 

 

© 2023 Bonington.com | Developed by A Ward @ WAM Design