At Extremely Patagonia, we do things a bit differently. We like to explore new places, get off the beaten path. There are many beautiful places in Patagonia; We just go to the ones without other people.
Even if you’ve lived your whole life in the city and have only seen mountain climbing on TV, that’s ok. We’re here to help you learn. We start with things like camp cooking and how to pack a backpack. A month later you’ll be setting up abseil anchors, tying munter hitches, and pulling your partner out of crevasses. All we ask is that you have a strong desire to learn and a willingness to work hard. If you already know a bit about mountaineering, that’s ok to. With our progressive approach to things, you’ll be exploring new places and reviewing technical skills in no time.
This is the major difference between Extremely Patagonia and other guiding companies. We’re not interested in “soft mountaineering.” We don’t pitch your tent for you, we don’t cook for you, and we don’t carry all your stuff. You do. But we show you how to do it in style. It’s our goal, that when you finish your expedition, you will know how to take care of yourself in a remote environment. Want a support van and to sleep in a five star hotel every night? This isn’t the trip for you. But if you want to learn how to use a compass and map, how to cook gourmet meals on a camp stove, how to travel properly over a glacier… you’ve come to the right place. This isn’t a guided trip up a peak. It is, rather, an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to travel comfortably in a remote environment, be it forests, alpine meadows, or glaciers. The focus is on acquisition and practice of expedition planning, mountain travel, and mountaineering skills.
Another unique aspect of Extremely Patagonia is that our trips are exploratory. Your guide hasn’t been there before either. This allows an even greater learning opportunity for you, as your guides will talk about what they’re thinking and seeing, discuss choices, and give you the opportunity to understand the complexities of a true expedition.
Beyond the technical skills of being on a long trip, there are the equally challenging aspects of living and working very closely with other people in often harsh and demanding situations. How do you get along with your tent mate when you’re stuck in a tent in a raging storm for days on end? How do you deal with having to cook an evening meal when you’ve been walking in the driving rain for 12 hours and are soaked through? Learning to deal with these challenges is at least as important to the success of the expedition and your development as a mountaineer. It means taking responsibility not only for yourself, but for others. It means improving judgement skills and learning to minimize risk.
So come on, challenge yourself. Join Extremely Patagonia for a once in a lifetime adventure.
See For Yourself
Take a look at photos from past expeditions in the Photo Gallery >>