Aguja Guillaumet


Aguja Guillaumet is a mountain in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.

Description

Aguja Guillaumet is a summit in the Andes. The peak is located 1.5 kilometers northeast of Fitz Roy and 13 kilometers northwest of El Chaltén, in Los Glaciares National Park of Patagonia. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains to Viedma Lake. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,925 meters above Laguna Piedras Blancas in four kilometers, and 1,175 meters above the North Fitz Roy Glacier in one kilometer. The first ascent of the summit was made in 1965 by Carlos Comesaña and José Luis Fonrouge. The toponym, which translates as Guillaumet Needle, was applied by Louis Lliboutry in 1952 to honor Henri Guillaumet, a French aviator who carried mail between Argentina and Chile. The nearest higher peak is Aguja Mermoz, 0.475 kilometer to the southwest.

Climbing

Established climbing routes with first ascents:
  • Original route – 1965 – – Carlos Comesaña, José Luis FonrougeAmy-Vidailhet – 1968 – – Bernard Amy, Pierre VidailhetGuillot-Conqueugniot – 1968 – – Joël Coqueugniot, François Guillot
  • North Ridge – 1981 – Eduardo Brenner, Eduardo MoschioniHard Sayin’ Not Knowing – 2009 – Kate Rutherford, Michael SchaeferPatagonian Werewolfs – 2012 – Marcos Costa, Sergey Dashkevitch

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Aguja Guillaumet is located in a tundra climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool summers. Weather systems are forced upward by the mountains, causing moisture to drop in the form of rain and snow. This climate supports the Piedras Blancas Glacier below the east slope of the peak and the North Fitz Roy Glacier to the west. The months of November through March offer the most favorable weather for visiting or climbing in this area.