Patagonia: Markus Pucher claims first solo winter ascent of Aguja Guillaumet

Markus Pucher, the Austrian alpinist who more than anyone else in recent years has dedicated himself solo winter ascents in Patagonia, has completed the first solo winter ascent of Aguja Guillaumet, the 2579m peak in the Fitz Roy massif first ascended in 1965 by the Argentines Carlos 'Pampero' Comesaña and José Luis Fonrouge.

The Austrian mountain guide announced his Aguja Guillaumet summit with the following short message "Against the Snowstorm! - the winner takes it all ;-) On Friday the 8th September I made the first winter solo ascent of Aguja Guillaumet! I started climbing in heavy snowstorm and finally I stood on the summit in bright sunshine! My adventure and photos will follow soon! A big thank you to Rolo Garibotti Patagonia Vertical for the weather forecast."

Pucher ascended via the Amy-Vidailhet route (Bernard Amy, Pierre Vidailhet, 1968) and descended via the Guillot-Conqueugniot (Joël Coqueugniot, François Guillot, 1968). His ascent came about after having been forced to turn back from a solo ascent of Fitz Roy due to high winds a few days earlier.

In September 2016 Pucher completed the first winter of Cerro Pollone. As is well-known, Pucher’s main goal is the first solo winter ascent of Cerro Torre and in September 2016 the Austrian turned back a mere 40 meters from the summit. It’s worth remembering Pucher’s incredible solo ascent of Cerro Torre in 2014 carried out through a raging storm, but in December, i.e. during the Austral summer.



Info: www.markuspucher.at, FB Markus Pucher, Grivel, Ferrino, SCARPA