GUNUNG · Chili
Torres del Paine
Source
Photo: source
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- Wind
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Source: Open-Meteo
Information
- Elevation
- 2.500 m
- Country
- Chili (CL)
- Location / Range
- Cordillera Paine — Taman Nasional Torres del Paine, Patagonia
- Mountain type
- Menara granit (non-vulkanik)
- Volcanic?
- No (non-volcanic)
- Coordinates
- -50.9410, -72.9808
- Difficulty
- Trek dasar sedang–berat; puncak menara sangat berat (big-wall teknis)
- Best Season
- November–Maret (musim panas austral)
- Permits & Rules
- Tiket masuk Taman Nasional Torres del Paine (CONAF) berbayar; registrasi & reservasi kemah/refugio wajib untuk trek W & O Circuit.
- Hazards
- Angin Patagonia ekstrem, cuaca berubah drastis dalam hitungan jam, hujan/salju sepanjang tahun, sungai & jembatan gantung. Puncak menara hanya untuk pemanjat big-wall elite.
Description
Torres del Paine ('Towers of Paine') are three iconic granite peaks in the Cordillera Paine, the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. From south to north: Torre d'Agostini (~2,500 m), Torre Central (~2,460 m, first climbed in 1963 by Chris Bonington & Don Whillans) and Torre Monzino (~2,260 m); the range's high point is Cerro Paine Grande (2,884 m). Glacier-carved from a granite batholith, the towers form one of the most recognisable landscapes on Earth. Their vertical granite walls are elite big-wall objectives; for trekkers the park offers the 'W' trek (~4–5 days) and the 'O Circuit' (~7–9 days), climaxing in the day hike to Base Torres — a panorama of the three towers mirrored in a turquoise glacial lake.
Gallery
Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.
Routes
Base Torres (Mirador Las Torres)
Sedang–beratThe park's most iconic day hike: from Hotel/Refugio Las Torres up the Ascencio Valley to the glacial-lake viewpoint at the foot of the three towers. The final 1 km climbs a steep boulder moraine. Wind and cloud can hide the towers — an early start improves the odds of clear skies.
O Circuit (Paine Circuit)
Berat (multi-hari)The full loop around the Cordillera Paine, taking in the entire 'W' plus the quieter northern backside and the John Gardner Pass crossing overlooking the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. One-way (counter-clockwise) only, with a limited daily quota.
Puncak Menara (big-wall teknis)
Sangat berat (teknis ekstrem)Summiting the Central/North/South towers is pure granite big-wall climbing — the Central Tower was first climbed in 1963 by Chris Bonington & Don Whillans. Only for elite climbers within a narrow weather window.
Trek 'W'
Sedang–berat (multi-hari)The classic W-shaped trek linking the park's three highlights: Base Torres, the French Valley and Grey Glacier. Nights in refugios/campsites; reservations required well in advance. Well-marked but exposed to Patagonian wind.
Climbing Experiences
Torres del Paine is Patagonia's trekking magnet — hiker accounts center on the 'W' trek (4–5 days) and the 'O Circuit' (7–9 days), climaxing in the day hike to Base Torres: ~19 km round trip with ~900 m of climbing through lenga forest, suspension bridges over glacial rivers, and a steep boulder moraine to the lake at the foot of the three granite towers. Recurring themes: brutal Patagonian wind and fast-changing weather, the need to book refugios/campsites far ahead, and an early start for the best chance of clear skies at the towers. Many stress that Paine can be done independently without a tour with careful logistics planning.
References
The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.