A group of experienced Bulgarian mountaineers are in South America where they aim to climb unconquered peaks in the mountains of Patagonia, spreading on the territory of Chili and Argentina. The team of four climbers includes mountain guide and alpinism champion Martin Marovski, who is the leader of the expedition, local vice champion in alpinism Grigor Vutev, Viktor Voroshkin – author of one of the hardest traditional climbing routes in Bulgaria, and Ruslan Vakrilov – one the best Bulgarian extreme photographers.
The aims the boys have until the end of the expedition that should end at the beginning of February include climbing granite peaks that are not so high – about 3000 meters, but because of their difficulty unprepared climbers don’t even dare to look at. Some of the peaks will be conquered for the first time by Bulgarians. One of them is the massive granite pinnacle of Cerro Torre, climbed just 30 times in the history. The climbers will use the Ragni route to conquer it. They will also climb some of the three granite pinnacles of Torres del Paine, considered some of the most beautiful natural phenomena in the world. The mountaineers plan to climb Fitz Roy peak using a Bulgarian route. The peak was climbed for the first time in 1952. Grigor Vutev, Nikola Levakov and Damyan Cholpanov became the first Bulgarians to climb it in 2012.
Famous Peruvian climber Rayner Solano once told us: “Cerro Torre is famous as one of the most difficult peaks with its huge walls. Even standing under this colossus is a privilege that few can have because the of the climbing route’s difficulty. Climbing becomes even harder because of the Patagonian winter and changing weather.”
According to local people in Patagonia one can see the four seasons changing in a single day. If you don’t like the weather, wait a second. It may change,” says a local proverb. Cerro Torre was climbed for the first time in 1974 or 5 years after a man stepped on the moon.
The Bulgarian climbers in Patagonia plan to shoot a documentary during their expedition in order to share the unique experience with others.
English: Alexander Markov
Photos: private library
