People often see a steep mountain in various pictures, but many do not know its name, perhaps because it is located far away from most people.
This mountain is Fitzroy, which is situated on the other side of the world, in the Patagonian ice field in southern Argentina.
Monte Fitz Roy is a famous mountain in the Patagonian highlands of southern Argentina. The local Tverche people reverently call it "Chalten", which means "mountain that swallows clouds and exhales mist". The name Fitz Roy was given to the mountain by the Argentine explorer Francisco Moreno, after the captain of the British ship Hound of the Coast, Robert Fitz Roy, who explored the area in the 19th century. The name Fitz Roy has since been used internationally.
The Patagonian highlands are crisscrossed by the Andes from north to south, with Chile to the west and Argentina to the east. On the eastern ridge of the great Patagonian ice sheet, there is a peak with a series of vertical rocky peaks. Several compact combinations of peaks stand abruptly along the glacier, and the Fitz Roy series of peaks, in particular, are striking and spectacular. The Tverche people of the highlands, who migrated nomadically from the Atlantic coast to the Andes in the summer, used the prominent mountain formations and clouds of smoke of Fitz Roy as a signpost.
El Chalten is a beautiful town situated beneath the famous Fitzroy Mountains, which is a hiking mecca in Patagonia. In 2015, it was awarded second place in the list of the best tourist cities in the world by Lonely Planet, and now attracts a lot of tourists in the summer. Due to its special significance, the town is located at the foot of the mountain on a dead-end road with few other industries, mainly tourism. The town is full of various travel agencies, hotels, and hostels, as well as restaurants, and is very busy during the tourist season.
Today, this town of a thousand people can receive more than 100,000 tourists each year. Tourism facilities are perfect, and in the peak season, a variety of travel agencies can provide a variety of travel projects and guide services. Outdoor stores can rent the necessary hiking equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, and moisture-proof pads. Many hotels have more affordable prices compared to those in Chile.
Although Fitzroy Peak can be seen from the town of Chalten, the view is obstructed by the mountains behind the town. To truly experience Patagonia's dense forests and wilderness, visitors need to explore its core areas on foot. Basic routes such as Laguna De Los Tres, Laguna Torre, Laguna Capri, and Vulture Lookout can all be done in a day and back, and staying in town is perfectly fine. For a deeper experience, visitors can bring camping gear and take advantage of several free camping sites in the mountains.
Chalten has a near-polar maritime climate that changes quickly, and weather forecasts are often unreliable. However, statistically speaking, the temperature difference throughout the year is much smaller compared to continental climates. During summer, temperatures range from 6 to 19 degrees Celsius, while in spring and autumn, they range from 10 to 0 degrees Celsius.
In winter, temperatures range from plus or minus 5 degrees Celsius. As the Andes block some of the water vapor from the Pacific Ocean, these areas on the west side of the Andes receive less precipitation than those in Chile, but bad weather is often seen, with demon winds and dust. Precipitation in Chalten is mostly concentrated in winter, and summers are windy, but the sunshine hours are long. Autumn is the best season for photography as the mountains are covered in red and the sunshine hours are right, so you don't have to leave too early or return too late.
