'Four Go Free' Fitzroy E Face

Despite previous experience of Patagonian weather, this team of stalwarts returned hoping to make the first ascent of a 1,300m free climb on the massive east face of Cerro Fitzroy (3,405m), which they thought was well protected from the storms. A snow-hole base camp was soon established (amongst several others) at the Col Superior and a potential line identified on the left of the face. However, during the next four weeks they only had eight hours of 'good' weather: continuous snow and rising temperatures led to frequent avalanches, (and burial of equipment) and although they spent 20 days in their snow hole poised to go, they never actually set foot on the route. An attempt on the Franca Argentine route was also unsuccessful due to deep snow.