Cerro Sierra Bella, South Face, Cerro de Orientación, South Face and Other Peaks. Organized by the Club Alemán Andino, Santiago, our 11-man expedition climbed eleven peaks in the Río Colorado region, two of them 6000ers., between February 1 and 24. Christian Thiele and I made the first ascent of the south face of Cerro Sierra Bella (5230 meters, 17,159 feet). Beginning at 3980 meters the route ascended some 1000 meters of ice, which averaged 50° with passages of 60° and 70°. The route on the face reached the normal east ridge 300 meters below the summit. We also made the first ascent of the south face of Cerro de Orientación (5005 meters, 16,419 feet), 400 meters of ice, which varied between 50° and 60° and ended directly on the summit. This peak lies on the border north of Tupungato, while a second mountain of the same name lies wholly within Argentinian territory. Other climbs were Tupungato itself (6550 meters, 21,490 feet), Nevado Sin Nombre (6000 meters, 19,685 feet) north and south summits, Cerro Rabicano II (c. 5300 meters, 17,389 feet) and other less known peaks.

Christian Buracchio, Club Alemán Andino de Santiago, Chile