Hike Hut to Hut in Bariloche

Day 1: Cerro Catedral

The day before we'll visit you at your lodging for a Check equipment and mountain guide meeting.

Pick up at 9:00 and transfer to the head trail (30 min drive from Bariloche city). Our hike starts at the base station of cerro Catedral skiing resort. We follow a hiking trail which goes at the side of the mountain slowly going higher, smooth slopes that cross some creeks. Gutiérrez lake and cerro Ventana are at sight along the first part of the hiking trail. Then the trail gets into theVan Titter creek valley. Lenga (nothofagus) forest and some shrubby species dominate this section of the trail. We will pass along Refugio (mountain hut – bivouac) Piedritas (little rock), an unusual bivouac built under a big rock. From there onwards we will observe on the traverse how the vegetation gets smaller and scarce as we get higher, the Lenga shrubs will allow us to see the first rocky formations of the valley. After 4 hours hike we will see at the the foot of Aguja (spire) Frey, by Toncek lagoon the Refugio (mountain hut) Emilio Frey (at 1.700 m above sea level) surrounded by a circle of granite spires

Length of hike: 4-6 hours

Meals: Lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Mountain hut 

Day 2: Laguna Toncek

Hiking along the Toncek lagoon and ascending at its end we get into rocky terrain until we reach the Catedral mountain ridge, passing along Schmoll lagoon and the so-called ‘cancha de fútbol’ (football court). From the ridge the view is magnificent to Rucaco valley, cerro tres Reyes, torre principal (main Catedral tower) and the majestic Mount Tronador at the background. We'll descent to Rucaco valley, then ascent again to Brecha Negra pass and last hiking down to Refugio (mountain hut) San Martín, Jakob lagoon.

Length of hike: 6-8 hours

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Mountain hut 

Day 3: Refugio Italia

After breakfast we continue hiking to Témpanos lagoon and Refugio peak. This part may be the most technically difficult section of the hut-to-hut traverse, trekking through the Los Inocentes Andes ridge to Cerro Navidad, descending to the stream that comes from Negra lagoon. From there, the last part of the hike is an ascent to Refugio Italia “Manfredo Segre” mountain hut.

Length of hike: 8-12 hours

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Mountain hut 

Day 4: Negra Lagoon

We hike along Negra lagoon, with some rocky parts. We continue hiking, ascending through a wide valley to Negro mountain ridge. We have wide view to mountains such as Bailey Willis, Negro, CAB, Capitán, Tristeza branch and CAB lagoon. We hike around Bailey Willis Mountain, descending to Goye valley, and then ascending to Turista peak at López Mountain, descending to the mountain hut to the end of our hiking traverse. Transfer back to Bariloche city late afternoon.

Length of hike: 7-9 hours

Meals: Breakfast, lunch