This hike is ideal for exploring the mountains of the Bariloche area in 1 or 2 days.
The hike starts at the base of Cerro Catedral, which is 15 km from the city center of San Carlos de Bariloche. The hike covers a total of 20 km, including the ascent and descent, with a cumulative elevation gain of 800 m.
We'll start by walking through a mixed forest, gaining very little altitude as we warm up and cross crystal-clear streams. Gradually, we'll start to enjoy views from above of Lake Gutiérrez and the beautiful mountains that surround it. After a while of hiking, we'll start to make our way through the Van-Titter Creek Valley, within the tall lenga forest, and, gaining a little more altitude, we'll reach the Slovenian “Piedritas” Refuge, where we can take a nice break. Then comes the final leg of the hike, which ascends through a forest of increasingly stunted lenga trees until you reach the Emilio Frey Refuge. It is located on the shores of Lake Tonchek, in an incredible cirque sculpted by glaciers and surrounded by granite spires, where, if we are lucky and have a keen eye, we can spot climbers enjoying the quality of the rock.
If the client wishes, they can spend the night at the refuge, enjoying a delicious dinner and resting after admiring a beautiful sunset and a night under the stars. Alternatively, if the guest wishes to return to town, the descent can be made on the same day, returning to Bariloche in the late afternoon.
Spending the night in the mountains is highly recommended, as you'll have more time to enjoy them and take short walks around the lodge area. It's also a good option for combining multi-day trekking activities in the area (ask about similar activities).