October 13rd 1972: An Uruguayan plane that carries 45 passengers to Chile, most of them students and rugby players, crushes into the Andes.
Twelve of them died because of the crush.
The survivors had to carry on living in hunger and trying to tolerate the fearless mountain , 30 degrees below zero during many nights.
They try to resist with a limited reserve of food as they wait to be rescued. Their faith decreased when they heard on the radio that the rescue had been called off due to the belief that none of them had survived.
Finally, tired of the low temperature, the threatening avalanches, the increasing anguish for the dead friends and the loss of hope to be rescued, two of them decide to cross the huge mountains to reach for help.
On December 22nd of 1972, after 72 days of isolation, the world took notice that sixteen passengers had overcomed death.
This event was later told by the survivors, in a book and, later on, it turned to a movie “ALIVE”, which told this story to the world.
Today, the journey starts at this breathtaking location.
And we invite you to visit this place, as you go over this story….
Day 1: Meeting at El Sosneado (If you are staying in San Rafael, we can pick you up; transfer is included). From there we will take a 3- hour trip up to the mountain by transfer. Once there the baqueanos will begin to set up the horses and to prepare the loads that will go with the mules. On this first day we will cross the rivers Atuel, Rosado and Barroso. After 4 hours riding, we will arrive at our base camp , El Barroso. Lunch. Afternoon free to relax and enjoy the landscape. Dinner.
Day 2: After breakfast begins our longer and challenging day of our trip towards las Lagrimas valley.After 4 hours approximately, we will finally arrive at the "Las Lagrimas Glacier", reaching the 3.700 msnm, on the border between Argentina and Chile. We will ascend walking up to the commemorative cross where in a respectful silent we will honor the victims. Then, in company of our guides, we will walk along the area doing a local recognition of the rest of the plane , dozens of crosses, epitaphs, flags, offerings, and the monument to the victims. After lunch , we will return to our camp site. Farewell dinner.
Day 3: After breakfast we wil prepare the horses and the loads for the return. We will ride up to El Sosneado. Lunch. End of our services.
RECCOMENDATIONS
Stay the previous night in San Rafael as we can pick you up on day 1 early in the morning at your hotel/hostel.
Note 1: All horses are properly trained and prepared to ride in the mountain and our baqueanos have the best conditions and local knowledge. It is not necessary to have previous experience.
Note 2: Active program with middle-hard difficulty suitable from 13 to 60 years old (cases outside these age range will be evaluated).Suitable for people up to 100-110 kg, given the load resistance of our horses. There are steep ascents and descents but there are no places with significant risk.
Note 3:Program subjected to weather, poltical and geographical conditions. Modifications may occur. Decisions will be taken exclusively by the guides, mountain guides and coordinators.
cases outside of these age ranges will be evaluated
