Region: America South & Antartica

Andy Cave (with Dave Hesleden, Leo Houlding and Simon Nadin plus Neil Harvey & Ross Purdy in support) January 2002

Despite the name of this expedition, no climbing was actually done on any of the 'Towers' themselves. However, from a base in the Bader (previously Pingo) Valley a number of successes were achieved. Cave & Houlding made the first free ascent of the 800m Spanish route Illusiones on Cerro Mascara (The Mask) in 1½ days at E4, 5C (the original team took 10 days and graded it A3+): Hesleden & Nadin made the first ascent of the West Couloir on Paine Chico, 2670m, and repeated the Spanish route on Los Cuernos.