Arrival at the airport of San Carlos de Bariloche. Car transfer from the airport to a downtown hotel. City tour and time to get any personal needs for the trek. General briefing on the itinerary. Dinner at a good argentine barbecue restaurant.

After breakfast we depart for Refugio Frey trailhead in Cerro Catedral. Traversing the mountain to the south, high over Lake Gutierrez, we reach the tree clad valley of the Van Titter Stream were we make a longer stop to have a picnic lunch. Early in the afternoon we arrive at the Frey Mountain Refuge (1650 meters). We relax enjoying the view of the glacier cirque and its impressive granite spires. Cheese fondue dinner and a good night sleep.

Estimated walking time: 4 hours.
Linear distance: 10 km.
Altitude gain: 700 meters.
Escape route: same trail.

We make an early start for the most technical day of our trek. From Refuge Frey we climb to the Rucaco pass on the Catedral ridge at (2050 m.a.s.l.); at this point we have an astounding view of the Andes stretching both to the north and to the south, as well as the magnificent Chilean volcanoes to the west.

We might find snow on the way from the moment we leave Frey all the way up to the ridge, until we descend to the Rucaco Valley. Picnic lunch in the forest, and then we follow the valley up to the Brecha Negra Mountain Pass that will take us to our destination for the day: San Martin Mountain Refuge (1600 m.a.s.l.), beside Lake Jakob and the spires of the “Devils Horns” in the background. Pasta dinner.

This is our most technical day due to the steepness of the climb; plus the fact that we will be trekking on loose rocks and snow, and be exposed to the patagonian weather.

Estimated walking time: 7 hours.
Linear distance: 17 km.
Altitude gain: 800 meters.
Escape route: before first ridge through Frey trail, in the Rucaco Valley through trail down the valley.

After breakfast we start heading to the south towards Lake Mascardi (800 meters). We first need to ascend towards the Schweizer pass at 1800 meters, from this point the view of the Devils Horns Mountain and the valley is spectacular. We then take a steep descent following the cascades of the Casalata River. This trail follows a narrow line through the bottom of the valley. This day offers boggy terrain, several stream crossings and some extreme brushing against the vegetation along the trail. We end our day reaching Lake Mascardi and getting ferried across the lake towards the road on the other side. While crossing we catch the last beams of the sun behind the impressive Mount Tronador. We take a short transfer to Pampa Linda, the start of our next stage. Clothing and luggage resupply.

Estimated walking time: 8 hours.
Linear walking distance: 24 km.
Altitude gain: 200 meters and then downhill, with some short ups and downs.
Escape route: through same trail.

Day 1 of the Pass of the Clouds. The first part of the day follows the Alerce Valley until reaching the climb that will take us to the top of the pass at 1350 meters above sea level. From this point we can see Lake Frias, our camp not for tonight but for tomorrow. We start descending towards camp next to the Frias Glacier, with its thundering ice fall, and under the southern stars. Dinner: argentine stew.

Linear distance: 17 km.
Altitude gain 400 meters.
Estimated walking time: aprox. 7 hours.
Escape route: same trail.

This our last day of the challenge and although we don´t have much of a climb the distance is really demanding. Thus we put our big packs on the bus and take for the road with a light pack with lunch, photo camera and basic needs for the day. We must start really early to make sure we meet our ferry at Peulla on time. This is the end of our trek across the Andes.
We navigate Lake Todos los Santos and then take a one hour car transfer to Puerto Varas to celebrate the end of our trip at a very nice hotel on the margins of Lake Llanquihue.

Linear distance: 28 km.
Altitude gain: 300 meters.
Estimated walking time: 7 hours.
Escape route: same road.