South America, Argentina, Argentine Patagonia, Aguja de la S

Publication Year: 1997.

Aguja de la S. On January 15, 1996, I soloed a route on la S from the west. From the standard high bivy spot below Inominata, I climbed the long snow couloir between St. Exupery and la S. From the notch at the top I climbed the normal pitch (rock and mixed on my ascent) to the broad bench below la S’s summit towers. From there I climbed the first series of cracks, in comers and chimneys, immediately left of the crest of the west ridge (which meant I was climbing on the north face). Four pitches of 5.9+ and mixed climbing (icy cracks) got me to the summit. I descended via the established rap route on the left side of the north face.

Charlie Fowler