El Muro, #2, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022 (A cozy-grunge sort of atmosphere here!)
[NOTE: This is as of January, 2023 and is sort of a place holder… I’ll update photos and text as I get more info. For now, maybe this will help orient any climbers passing through the area.]
Mendoza, An Oasis in the Desert
Most folks visiting this area of Argentina will be here to check out the province’s capital city, Mendoza. It’s beautiful central plazas and shady, tree-lined streets are a nice respite from the surrounding baked and arid landscape. To enjoy the atmosphere a bit, maybe go to Peatonal Sarmiento or Calle Arístides Villanueva and hang out at an outdoor cafe for a meal or a coffee.
This is also big time wine country (along with the Province of San Juan to the north), so many will want to tour a bodega and then hang out for the wine tasting and a “typical” Argentine asado with, perhaps, a view of a few snow-capped 6,000-meter peaks in the distance, looming large and lazy above the vineyards.
Others–those a bit more adventurous–might be here to try their pluck and luck in summiting a really, really big continental bump–like Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas at 6,961 meters, or 22,837 breath-stealing feet.
However, if you merely like to climb on small rock crags (as opposed to the famously huge Andes), know that you do have some options–so bring your shoes, harness, and helmet.
Below, I’ll give you a brief outline of what you might expect.
Finding Crags/Routes and Climbing Partners
First, know that information is often hard to come by. You’ll have to scrounge beta from some of the following options:
–Talk to the climbers hanging out at the rock gyms, or palestres, mentioned below.
–If you are of the younger set, backpacking your way around Argentina, try asking folks at the hostal where you are staying.
–Stop in and chat with the people at the climbing shop, Orviz Tienda de Montaña: Avenida Juan B. Justo 532, Ciudad Mendoza 5500; Tel +54 (0261) 4251281; Email info@orviz.com
–Check out the Instagram link: viasdeescaladamendoza
–General Googling, along with your high school Spanish.
–You could also try poking around The Crag website.
–Finally, for finding a climbing partner, consider a post on Mountain Project. There is also some limited crag/route info on their Mendoza page.
Embrace the relative lack of route information! Embrace the adventure!
Outdoor Climbing
Within 30 minutes to an hour of Mendoza City, you’ll find a number of smaller crags on various types of rock–granite, limestone, basalt. Most are concentrated in the Cacheuta and Potrerillos area, or found along Ruta 7 (the route to Chile) just below the town of Potrerillos. I wouldn’t describe the crags as special or spectacular, but it IS rock climbing (mostly sport climbing, with just a little trad)!
If you have time to explore farther west on Ruta 7, the wide open valley around Uspallata looks to have some serious potential–but you’ll likely have to find your way into the inner circle of the local climbing community to get the inside scoop on where to go as this area is huge and the rock quality/type/color/height differs tremendously from one zone to the next (but great for landscape photographers and structural geologists!).
The Instagram link given in the previous section (viasdeescaladamendoza) is perhaps the easiest way to find general information and photos of many of the local crags and routes along Ruta 7 west of Mendoza.
This is the area that gets, by far, the most international attention in the Province of Mendoza. It’s full name is El Cajón de los Arenales, but most just say “Arenales”, and it is about 2-3 hours away from Mendoza City, to the south. Here, you’ll find longer multi-pitch trad routes on excellent granite in a somewhat barren and hostile (but super-duper spectacular!) alpine environment. There is some sport climbing here as well–and much potential for new routes of all kinds.
Arenales is somewhat remote, so ideally you should plan on staying at least a few days at the Refugio Arenales. It sits at about 8,500 feet, so expect alpine-type weather conditions. Get up and down before the weather moves in! Late spring through early fall is probably the best time for a visit (Oct/Nov through April or so).
If you can, find and snap up a copy of the Arenales guidebook by Ignacio Elorza for detailed info.
The above Instagram link also has some basic beta with photos
This is a smaller city about three hours south of Mendoza Capital. There is an abundance of sport climbing to be had here (all year around), but specific information seems hard to find (try Ms. Google). The main sectors appear to be: La Frazada, La Sismológica, El Santuario, and La Herradura.
Once I get down there to sample things, I’ll add more info.
The “Palestres”, or Rock Gyms
Links given below. Beware, though, as their advertised hours may not be their actual hours. You can try calling first. Of the three, Octopus seems to be the cleanest and most professionally operated, although all three are nice for sampling the social mileu at peak evening hours. None have autobelays and lead climbing is very, very limited (read: nonexistent!?). It is mostly búlder, or bloque, (bouldering).
Generally, routes or problems are not “set” as in the typical American gym. Instead, the holds are not color-coded or tape-labeled and stay on the wall for loooong periods of time and you just make up your own route or boulder problem by selecting or eliminating holds. This makes for some good social engagement (i.e., good natured cheering and jeering) if you are with a fun group.
These are good places to connect up with other climbers or guides, and to gather crag/route beta.
El Muro (Godoy Cruz, Mendoza Capital)
El Muro, #1, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
El Muro, #4, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
Octopus (Godoy Cruz, Mendoza Capital)
Octopus, #7, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
Octopus, #5, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
Octopus, #3, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
Octopus, #4, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
Octopus, #6, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
Club Andinista de Mendoza, or C.A.M. (Beltrán 357, M5519 Mendoza, Argentina)
Club Andinista de Mendoza, #1, Mendoza, Argentina, 2023
C.A.M. (above) was padlocked when I went by on this day (despite Google saying they would be open). I’ll post pictures after my next inside visit. From visits a couple of years ago, I remember it being fairly humble and home-made–much like El Muro.
A Few Outdoor Urban Options for the Desperate (Mendoza Capital)
The glorious iron monument at the top of this hill is a very oft-visited tourist site and you’ll find it on the west (upper) side of the city. The area is also popular with mountain bikers, runners, and walkers as the surrounding trails are constantly patrolled by police and park security and thus quite safe. I’ve never been hassled for climbing here by security or anyone else.
DO NOT, however, climb on the walls around the monument at the very summit of the Cerro–that is sacred ground as it celebrates the liberation of Argentina from Spain by the Army of the Andes led by General José de San Martín.
At the base of Cerro de la Gloria, this human-made wall, which forms the eastern side of the Vendimia concert amphitheater was apparently used BITD by locals for a bit of in-town rock practice and general social shenanigans. The traverse using the top of the wall for hands sounds easy but is a very good workout–you’ll get the pump going and you’ll work hard to find anything at all for your feet along several sections. As the story goes*, one very-motivated Alejandro Randis (founder of the Provincial Mountain Guide School and long time andinista) once traversed back and forth 14 times! Very impessive, especially since it was done nearly fifty years ago in modified soccer shoes. For me, just one time out and back on the wall and I’m good. [*Source: Armando Mulle]
These days, the wall doesn’t seem to get much use by climbers, although I did see faint traces of chalk on it one day–so someone does come here occasionally.
Oh, and for a real challenge, try the traverse from left to right just once without that top rail. I’m pretty sure that has yet to be done in one go.
Cerro de la Gloria, #3, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
These next two walls are on the paved road that comes down from the summit of Cerro de la Gloria. Probably the easiest access is to simply park at the bicycle bump park you saw as you drove in toward the amphitheater, and then walk a few short minutes up the road.
This will be the first wall you get to as you walk up the road. It’s not hard, so think of the long traverse back and forth as training your weak gym calves for those long slab climbs… or maybe you could try it one-handed!
Cerro de la Gloria, #5, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
A bit higher up on the same road you’ll find this wall, which is shorter and even more slabby than the first. Try the traverse one handed–or even no-handed. Or try the traverse without using the seams between the blocks. Great for teaching basic climbing moves, footwork, and balance.
Cerro de la Gloria, #7, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022
There is one small wall on a monument in this wonderful Park where (or so say the rumors) one can practice a bit of bouldering. Once I locate this mysterious piece of rock (and confirm it isn’t off limits), I’ll post up a picture or two and the location.
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