Torres del Paine is located in Southern Patagonia and is one of the numerous spectacular national parks in Chile. It was created in 1959 and UNESCO has listed the location as a Biosphere Reserve since 1978. This place is a wonderland for nature enthusiasts from all over the world.
Waterfalls and rivers, Magellanic sub-polar forests, pampas, mountains covered with permanent ice, granite peaks, meadows and glacier fed lakes await the outdoor adventurers to discover the wild and unique nature of Patagonia. The world wide known Towers, or else called Torres, are three incredible granite spikes.
Among these, the highest of all stands at 9514ft/2900m high, being part of the Cordillera del Paine. In order to approach the Towers, there are minibuses at Laguna Amarga, that will take you to Estancia Paine from where you can start your hike. To get to the East Face, hike onto the Rio Ascencio valley and then up a big moraine to the glacial lake towards the east side.
The route is a combination of rock with ice climbing, in very extreme weather setting and rock conditions. It has 20 technically difficult pitches and once you complete them, there is more. The “In the Eye of the Hurricane” route joins with Mala Pata on the route pitch 16 and leads you to the summit. Once you reach the top, the view of the nature around you is overwhelming, with outstanding ecosystems, different landscapes and rare flora and fauna, found nowhere else on the planet.
In every step you take, the views of this dramatic land take your breath away. The best time for ice climbing the Mala Pata route is between October through February. Be very well prepared in regards with gear, food and clothing because the weather is changeable and unpredictable with high winds, rain showers, snow and everything else you may think of. Wind proof layers are the key.
