From January 15–18, 2015, two rope teams completed the third and fourth enchainments of the three Towers of Paine. 

Oriol Baró (Spain), Paula Alegre, and Esteban Degregori (both Argentina) climbed and descended Torre Norte via the Monzino (400m, 5.10+), climbed Torre Central via the Bonington-Whillans (700m, 5.11) and descended the Kearney-Knight, and then climbed and descended Torre Sur via the Aste (1,100m, 5.11). This north-to-south enchainment was established by Steve Schneider solo (AAJ 2002). It does not follow the complete skyline but instead climbs a “W,” first accessing the skyline via the col between Torre Norte and Central and then, after climbing Torre Sur, rappelling back down the line of ascent.

Iñaki Coussirat (Argentina) with Cristóbal Señoret and Juan Señoret (both Chile) started via the full skyline, climbing Torre Norte from the north, via Espiritu Libero (500m, 5.11 A1) and descending the Monzino. They then climbed Torre Central via the Bonington-Whillans (800m, 5.11) and descended the Kearney-Knight. Finally, they ascended and descended the Aste (1,100m, 5.11) on Torre Sur. Although they completed a traverse of the towers, they did not descend Torre Sur to the south (by the route Hoth). [The team's time to complete the enchainment was 55 hours and 43 minutes.] Pedro Cifuentes (Spain) established the “complete skyline traverse” in 2013, solo, over 29 days (AAJ 2013). Missing, however, in the initial report about his ascent was the fact that his endeavor was supported—he received equipment and supplies at his last camp. An alpine-style “complete skyline traverse” is still pending.

[Editor’s note: Both 2015 teams took four full days to complete their climbs. Though all the individual routes described above have been free climbed, neither team climbed completely free.]

– Rolando Garibotti