Fitz Roy via Supercanaleta — February 2024 Summit Report¶

Fitz Roy via the Supercanaleta — a line that cuts directly up the southeast face through 1,200m of ice and mixed terrain. The February 2024 window was extraordinary — 36 hours of near-calm, a Patagonian miracle. We climbed from Paso Superior through the night, reaching the summit at sunset. The view of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field stretching to the Pacific was one of the most spectacular sights I have witnessed in two decades of climbing.

Trip Overview¶

Mountain: Fitz Roy (3405m) Date: February 03, 2024 Duration: 5 days Party Size: 2 Outcome: Summit

Conditions¶

Weather: A miraculous 36-hour weather window — rare for Patagonia. The summit was bathed in golden evening light. Clear views of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Snow: Mixed conditions — ice in the couloir, dry granite on the upper pitches. Temperature: -8°C to 5°C Wind: Near calm — astonishing for Fitz Roy. 5-10 km/h at summit.

Difficulty Assessment¶

The Supercanaleta is Fitz Roy's most direct ice/mixed route — 1,200m of sustained climbing up to AI4/M5. The route is exposed to rockfall and icefall. The crux pitches near the summit require confidence on thin mixed terrain with serious consequences.