On February 26, 2024, the Belgian Sean Villanueva managed to climb a new, extraordinarily long traverse in Patagonia. He climbed the three towers of Torres del Paine and La Peineta.
The first free ascent of Riders on the storm (1.200m 7c+). Sean Villanueva apparently not enough – or maybe just a good warm-up program. Because almost two weeks after his exploit in the company of Siebe Vanhee, Nico Favresse and Drew Smith Villanueva moved to Campo Britanico in the French Valley single-handedly and with minimal luggage.
As Rolando Garibotti reports on Pataclimb.com, it rained all night, so Sean Villanueva's equipment was soaked. Not the best conditions for a historical traversal. But Villanueva wouldn't be Villanueva if he didn't put doubts aside and set out decisively.
That was also necessary because after the heavy rainfall there was a short and relatively good weather window. And so, late in the afternoon of February 23rd, Villanueva embarked on the Il Lungo Sogno route (900m 60˚ 5.10 A2) at Torre Sur.
Sean Villanueva brought with him a light tent, food for five days, two gas cartridges, two light ice tools, crampons, a sleeping bag and clothing.
Rolando Garibotti
On his traversal of Torre Sur, Torre Central, Torre Norte and Peineta, Villanueva repeatedly encountered delicate conditions, cracks were iced over and there was a lot of snow in certain passages.
When we arrived at the last peak, most of the surrounding peaks were already covered in clouds, which is why Villanueva only allowed herself a short break before arriving at it after several steep abseils. At 16.30:XNUMX p.m. it was done: the first ascent of the “Doble M” traverse.
Rolando Garibotti: http://pataclimb.com/knowledge/mm_en.html
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Credits: Pictures Rolando Garibotti | Patagonia Vertical