New Altitudes in the Chaltén (Fitz Roy) Area. Until now, heights in use have come from the basic survey made by Professor Luis Lliboutry, a member of the French expedition that in 1952 made the first ascent of Chaltén (Fitz Roy). His task was meritorious and accurate in most cases, despite the short time he had and difficulties imposed by the logistics of the era. Both the names Chaltén and Fitz Roy have now been officially accepted. The first was the original one, meaning “Volcano” in Tehuelche, a name given by the ancients because this remarkable rock peak is almost always crowned by a cloud cap and it was thought then that it was smoke from a possible crater. The peak was renamed Fitz Roy, after the commander of the ship Beagle by the Argentine explorer Mariano Moreno. [Vice-Admiral Robert Fitzroy’s name is spelled on Argentine maps as noted above. —Editor] A survey by the Argentine Instituto Geográfico Militar was made a few years ago but the results were not released because of a border controversy with Chile. These new heights are now official and appear on the new maps. On Hoja (sheet) Monte Fitz Roy 4972-19, 1:100,000 are: Chaltén (Fitz Roy) 3405m (11,160'), Gorra Blanca 2907m (9539'), Marconi 2210m (7251'), Rincón 2465m (8028'), Pollone 2579m (8462'), Domo Blanco 2507m (8225'), Pier Giorgio 2719m (9821'), Poincenot 3002m (9849'), Cerro Torre 3102m (10,177'), Cerro Eléctrico 2257m (7405'). On Hoja Viedma 4972-25 and 4972-30 are Cerro Solo 2121m (6959') and Cerro Grande 2751m (9025').

Marcelo Scanu, Grupo Andino Huamán, Buenos Aires, Argentina