South America, Argentina, Argentine Patagonia, Cerro Piergiorgio, Pepe Rayo

Publication Year: 1997.

Cerro Piergiorgio, Pepe Rayo. Cerro Piergiorgio is a huge granite monolith at the northern end of the Torre Valle that boasts a 3,000-foot northwest face, visible only from the Patagonian ice cap. In early February, 1996, Andrea Sarchi, Mauro Girardi, Lorenzo Nadali, and Pietro Del Pra climbed 650 meters and 16 pitches to reach the northeast ridge, but failed to reach the summit 300 meters higher. They named their unfinished route Pepe Rayo (635 meters, 7a/A3), in honor of a Spanish climber who died during a Spanish team’s attempt on Piergiorgio.