After his climbs and ski descents of all the Karakoram 8,000’ers, skier Andrzej Bargiel of Poland has taken up a different challenge: the Andes and Patagonia.
The ski tourer has specialized in high-altitude descents since he achieved the first complete ski descent of K2 in 2018. Previously, he had skied down Shisha Pangma and Broad Peak. Then he skied both Gasherbrums and has attempted to ski Everest (without supplementary oxygen) twice. Bargiel has also climbed and skied previously unclimbed peaks, such as Yawash Sar II in 2021, and iconic mountains like Laila Peak.
Plenty of snow
We do not know much about this new South American challenge or the specific peaks Bargiel has in mind. His press team only notes that Bargiel will explore the ski areas of Cajón del Maipo and Cerro Castillo. Cajón del Maipo, an area of jagged peaks around the Maipo River, stands one hour away from Santiago de Chile. Cerro Castillo recently became a national park in Chile’s northern Patagonia.
Finally, Bargiel will then head to Argentina’s El Chalten, the gate to Patagonia’s Fitz Roy massif and Los Glaciares National Park.
Cerro Castillo, in Chile’s northern Patagonia. Photo: Wikipedia
The team is traveling in the austral spring, so there should still be plenty of snow. In 2024, South America enjoyed one of the highest snowfall years of the present century.
The team
Bargiel told Wspinanie that the lengthy expedition (part of his global Hic Sunt Leones — Latin for “Here are Lions”) is focused on exploratory skiing.
Bargiel will travel with free-rider and climber Jedrek Baranowski, plus a film and photography crew that includes Bartek Pawlikowski, Maciek Sulima, and Andrzej’s brother (and drone pilot), Bartek Bargiel.
Baranowski will team up with him on the technically challenging sections, while other crew members will join him on the less difficult slopes.
Bargiel in action. Photo: Maciek Sulima
