The Fitz Roy
The Fitz Roy felt special.
Somewhere I would need to visit again and perhaps next time I would get a little closer to the spires. I can’t quite put my finger on why it felt significant but mountains are mysterious forces, some attract some and others lure others.
Standing on this rock I was amazed, the end of a hike anticipated for many long rainy days, but I was unaware of the mecca before me. Two months earlier I had tasted mountaineering for the first time on the summit of Cotopaxi, and was eager for more. I became attached to the Andes and themed the rest of my travels by proximity to this range, hiking as much as possible.
Across the next year I would become something like a groupie, obsessed with climbing culture but adjacent, not actively participating as much as I would like. I talked about climbers like Tommy Caldwell, Hillaree Nelson, Margo Hayes and Jimmy Chin as if I knew them personally, following every expedition, climb and ski.
Since the Fitz Roy, I have been very fortunate to hike and live among many beautiful mountains. I think they will forever theme my life. I don’t know that I need to stand on top of them, especially ones like these spires, I just like to be near them.
Fitz Roy inspiration:
In 1968 Yvon Chouinard, Doug Tompkin, Chris Jones, Dick Dorworth and Lito Tejada-Flores ventured from California to Patagonia to climb Cerro Fitz Roy. This was long before the mountain village of El Chaltén with its craft brews and pizza, when they build ovens out of snow to bake bread and climbed mountains in wool sweaters.
you can watch the full film here
Years later I would watch this film and like many others I’m sure be left in utter awe of Tommy, Alex, their first ascent and most of all their friendship.