Cochamó Big Wall & Alpine

It is unusual to aim for two contrasting climbs during the same expedition, but that was the aim of this team, two members of which had already achieved some impressive big-wall climbing in Peru and Chile. On this trip they returned to Chile to attempt a new big-wall line up the 700m NW arête of Mount Trinidad, c.1,75Om, followed by an alpine traverse of the Trinidad range. After nine pitches on the former, dirty cracks requiring 'aid' to A3+ slowed progress so much that they decided to abandon it, and concentrate on the traverse. In two days' climbing up to AD+, they successfully completed the Mount Trinidad Horseshoe, including Trinidad and five other peaks, four of which were believed to be unclimbed.