The scale we use
| Gusts at the spot | What you feel | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 20 km/h | Calm. You hear the river, Fitz Roy reflects in the lake. | We go as usual. |
| 20 to 40 | You feel it on your face, the lengas sway. | A normal Chaltén day. |
| 40 to 60 | Hard to keep your hat on, you talk louder. | We go, with care on the last stretch. |
| 60 to 75 | You lean to move forward, poles help. | The guide picks where to stop and how high to go. |
| 75 to 100 | It shifts you, lifts grit. | We do not climb the moraine: another day or another valley. |
| Over 100 | Broken branches, waves on the lake. | Nobody walks up high that day. |
Forecast gusts at the hike’s height, not in town. On the day, the guide decides.
The technique
- Poles, always
- Two more points of contact. In strong gusts, both poles planted before the step.
- Body low
- Knees slightly bent, torso leaning into the wind. The lower the centre of gravity, the less it moves you.
- Stop in the gust
- When you feel it coming, stop, set your feet and wait. It passes in seconds. Then go on.
- One at a time where exposed
- On the moraine crest and on the passes, one walker at a time, without stopping in the most open spot.
- Nothing loose
- Pack closed, hat with a cord, glasses on. Whatever is not tied down goes.
- The timing
- Up high before noon. The difference between 10 am and 3 pm on the moraine is the difference between walking and not.
The clothing
A windproof, waterproof jacket with a hood that tightens well: the most important garment in Patagonia. Underneath, thin layers that come off and on. A hat that will not fly, thin gloves even in summer, glasses for the grit. Long trousers on windy days even if it is warm below: at 1,200 m with 70 km/h the wind chill is below zero. The full list, month by month: Read more →
Which trail to choose when it blows
- Sheltered
- The Río Eléctrico valley to Piedra del Fraile; Laguna Capri and Poincenot camp through the forest; Lago del Desierto; Mirador de las Águilas, which looks the other way.
- Exposed in parts
- Laguna Torre (the moraine at the end), Mirador Maestri, Laguna Pollone, the Piedras Blancas Glacier.
- Very exposed
- The Laguna de los Tres moraine, Pliegue Tumbado, Loma de las Pizarras, Paso del Cuadrado, Cerro Madsen and the Paso del Viento on the Huemul Circuit.
The wind on each of our treks, with a link to every hike: Read more →
If your trek day looks very windy up high, we tell you the evening before and offer another day or another valley. We do not charge for weather changes.
Questions
At what wind do you not climb to Laguna de los Tres?
With forecast gusts over 75 km/h at the lake we do not climb the moraine. Between 50 and 75 we climb with care; under 50 is a good day.
Do I need poles?
In wind, yes. Two more points of contact, and the difference on the moraine is big. We rent or lend them on the trek.
What if a very strong gust catches me on the crest?
Stop, get low, plant the poles and wait. It lasts seconds. Never keep walking inside the gust.
Is hiking in the wind dangerous in El Chaltén?
With judgement, no. The danger is climbing into the exposed ground with gusts over 75 km/h, or carrying on when the guide says no. That is why we check the gust forecast every morning.