This first handbook about ski mountaineering in the Andean Cordillera, in both Chile and Argentina, is also a travelogue. It describes and narrate over 80 tours, routes and paths. One of the particularities of such an adventure is the discovery of snow-capped volcanoes,their intense activity, their fumaroles, their abysses, their lava explosions and their thermal hotsprings.

 

The first section presents this as yet little known region of the Andes. Then follow the technical characteristics of each itinerary, covered by the author on skis. 9 maps and 400 photos facilitate one's understanding of the Cordillera morphology, its crops, the appearance of the vegetation, the meteorology, snow conditions, summits, and itinerary routes. Travellers, walkers, skiers or mountaineers in search of the unusual will find in this book the necessary ideas for touring through this wild and unspoilt part of the world.

Frederic Lena is from the French Alps and ski mountaineering was his introduction to the mountain world. At the moment he lives in Grenoble, and he works as a freelance veterinarian. Between 2002 and 2008 he travelled along the Andean mountain range from Ecuador down to the south of the continent, eventually he ended up spending more time in Chile and Argentina in order to go ski touring. During the subsequent two winter seasons from July to November, he toured this region on skis. He was always on the look-out for unusual itineraries, or routes which were not documented. Faced with the complete lack of documentation on ski touring in this area, he decided to describe all the peaks he had travelled to. Through his handbook he hopes to familiarise the reader with these important skiing areas, thereby making it more accessible and helping would-be travellers in the preparation of their trip.