Nevado San Miguel and Other Peaks. In April 1979, an expedition of the Club Amigos de la Montaña, Salta, climbed San Miguel (c. 5400 meters, 17,717 feet), located south of Nevado del Acay. As expected, archeological remains were located on the summit. Its steep scree slopes are crowned by ice ridges above 17,300 feet. The ascent was repeated by N. and María-Alejandra Chocobar, A. Cruz and A. Choque (January 1980), by N. and J. Chocobar (February 1982) and by L. Aguilar, F. Lisi and A. Gómez, (April 1982). Also in the Acay area, Cerro San Jeronimo (5370 meters, 17,618 feet) and Cerro Verde (5490 meters, 18,012 feet) were ascended by E. Moretti and C. Vitry in December 1979. Both peaks are located southwest of the town of San Antonio de los Cobres, Salta and both ascents are believed to the first in modem times. The highest peak in the Nevados de Palermo received its first ascent on August 1979 by J. Echenique and E. Moretti. Identification of this peak is not clear. Official height is 6300 meters (20,670 feet), but other maps show the highest peak to be Cerro Quemado (6130 meters, 20,112 feet). Chilean maps closely agree with this height, registering a Cerro de las Honduras (6140 meters, 20,145 feet) as the highest in this range, located west of Poma summer resort, in Salta. Members of the Club Amigos de la Montaña also made several repeat but important ascents of Llullaillaco, Acay, Cachi, Piedra Sonada, Galán, Morado, etc.

Evelio Echevarria