Cerro Natividad and Other Ascents, 1990-1. On March 19, 1990, four Argentine climbers led by Antonio Beorchia made the second ascent of the highest point of the Cordon de Manrique (5026 meters, 16,490 feet). On the summit, Boerchia found pieces of old lumber, possibly of Inca origin. The peak had been climbed only once in modem times, 31 years ago. On December 28, 1990, M. Manzi and H. Campódonico made the second ascent of Cerro Negro Aspero (5500 meters, 18,045 feet), this time by the southeast ridge, a new route. They went on climbing along the ridge that connected their peak to Cerro Natividad and completed the first ascent of the latter (also 5500 meters). They then descended to the high plateau between the two former peaks and the long Olivares chain. On the 29th, they made the first ascent of a peak in that chain that they named Cerro Olivares Norte (c. 6000 meters, 19,685 feet). It is seven kilometers west of Cerro Negro Aspero and wholly within Argentine territory. Another group, F. Pascual, R. Pereira and I, reconnoitered the Quebrada de las Trancas and attempted Nevado de Pismanta (5400 meters) but a storm forced us down. On January 16, 1991, we explored the Quebrada de San Lorenzo and placed a camp at 4300 meters. That same day, my two companions made the first ascent of Cerro Bifurcatión (5223 meters, 17,135 feet). I repeated the ascent the next day. Finally, on January 20, again alone, I made the first ascent of the very fine rock pyramid of Cerro de la Fortuna (4376 meters, 14,358 feet), which I climbed by the north side.

Marcelo Scanu, Grupo Andino Huamán, Buenos Aires