The sun keeps shining this season in Patagonia, so summit hopefuls keep sending. Despite the pall that Korra Pesce’s death has cast over the community, visiting climbers continue to build on a successful season.
Canadian Quentin Roberts made the most recent notch with a solo ascent of Torre Egger. The 2,685m tower sits next to Cerro Torre in the Chalten Massif. And because Roberts and Pesce’s party climbed more or less simultaneously, they shared a moment of camaraderie at their respective summits.
After Pesce’s party topped out on Cerro Torre, they were able to shout back and forth to Roberts across the void.
Roberts’ Torre Egger solo; tower history, and a tribute
You couldn’t ask for a much better window than the one Roberts got. Bluebird skies frame the Massif in virtually all of Roberts’ photos; in one, he’s sitting barefoot on a ledge.
Roberts has established his reputation with some bold solo ascents in the Canadian Rockies. The Grand Central Couloir (5.9 A2 WI5, V) on Mount Kitchener and Striving for the Moon (WI5/6, VI) on Mount Temple are on his tick list. Recently, he soloed Blessed Rage (5.7R, WI6+, V), known for rotten ice and committing sequences.
Torre Egger steeps in Patagonia’s climbing history. The controversial Cesare Maestri named the peak after falsely claiming the first ascent of Cerro Torre in 1959 with his partner Toni Egger. Egger died on the failed climb under circumstances that remain mysterious.
Colin Haley first soloed the formation in January 2016. Later that year, Marc-Andre Leclerc soloed it in winter. The film The Alpinist documents Leclerc’s climb.
After his ascent, Roberts issued a heartfelt statement about Pesce on Instagram.
“Korra was an amazing man whom I have always admired. He was always so kind and an absolutely incredible human and climber. I am so sorry for his family and those close to him,” Roberts wrote.
