Two highly skilled teams are racing against time to embark on thrilling expeditions in Patagonia before the summer season wraps up.
Matteo Della Bordella and Giacomo Mauri, hailing from Italy, excitedly shared a brief video just before jetting off to South America.
Their precise objective isn’t entirely clear, but they’re gearing up to take on the formidable challenge of Cerro Torre, a peak with special significance this year as it marks the 50th anniversary of its first ascent. Della Bordella boasts an impressive record with this peak, having already conquered it three times: first via the Compressor route in 2016, alongside Silvan Schupbach; then via Via dei Ragni in 2019, with Nicola Lanzetta; and most recently, pioneering a new route named Brothers in Arms with Matteo De Zaiacomo and David Bacci in January 2022. Their journey promises to be an exciting blend of adventure, skill, and commemoration.
Why the Delay?
Della Bordella has two significant reasons for kicking off the expedition later than usual. Firstly, back in December, he joyfully embraced fatherhood for the second time with the birth of his daughter. Naturally, he wanted to be present for this precious milestone in his family life.
Secondly, opting for a later start helps them evade the sweltering summer heat. Drawing from his experiences in the Alps, Della Bordella notes the necessity of adjusting climb timings to adapt to changing seasons. Despite this being less common for expeditions beyond Europe, he believes it’s worth experimenting with to enhance safety and comfort during their adventure.
Towards the tail end of summer, Patagonia might offer a slight reprieve from the heat, but timing is still crucial. Della Bordella and Mauri are arriving amidst a break in the harsh weather conditions, but they’ll need to bide their time for the next optimal weather window before embarking on their climb.
This marks the inaugural expedition for Della Bordella and Mauri as a team. However, their preparation has been extensive, training side by side for months. Just recently, they conquered the challenging Apriti Cielo route on Switzerland’s imposing Osogna Wall, a structure comparable in size to El Capitan. Scaling the daunting 36-pitch, 1,100-meter ascent in a mere 8 hours and 15 minutes showcases their remarkable skill and coordination. Notably, this route is renowned for its difficulty, peaking at a maximum grade of 7b+, and stands as the longest in the Ticino Canton.
Despite his young age of 24, Mauri boasts an impressive climbing résumé. He’s previously tackled the formidable Eternal Flame route on Trango’s illustrious Nameless Tower in Pakistan, demonstrating his prowess and expertise in challenging terrains.
Another skilled team, consisting of Thomas Huber, Jon Griffin, and Tad McCrea, has already touched down in El Chalten. Much like Della Bordella’s crew, they’re playing their cards close to their chest, revealing little about their intentions beyond a tantalizingly vague announcement.
Source : ExplorersWeb
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