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Jenny Abegg Achieves Fastest Known Time on Cerro Solo

Jenny Abegg, an American athlete, has carved out an unlikely niche in the world of Fastest Known Times (FKTs) in the mountain landscape. Known for her contemplative approach to climbing, she often takes breaks to appreciate the scenery or even swim in tarns along her route. Recently, she tackled Cerro Solo in Patagonia’s Fitz Roy massif under challenging conditions, yet she still recorded the fastest time ever achieved on this beloved peak.

Abegg’s dual perspective on FKTs—valuing the achievement while also questioning its instantaneity—brings complexity to her pursuits, as noted by Patagonia Vertical.

A Mountaineer at Heart

Growing up in the North Cascades and having traveled extensively across mountain ranges in both North and South America, Abegg’s primary focus has always been climbing rather than speed. However, when she embarked on her ascent of Cerro Solo recently, her goal shifted to reaching the summit in record time.

Her journey along the 28-kilometer route from El Chaltén to the summit and back took 6 hours, 22 minutes, and 15 seconds, featuring an impressive vertical gain of 2,196 meters. For more detailed information about this challenging route, you can read more here.

The Challenging Route

Beginning her adventure in El Chaltén, Abegg followed the Laguna Torre trail and executed a Tyrolean traverse across the Fitz Roy River before making her way up scree slopes to the glacier, which was freshly blanketed in snow—a factor that hampered her speed.

Upon reaching the glacier, she transitioned from sneakers to light boots and donned crampons for the technical sections. Although Cerro Solo is generally regarded as a simple peak, it includes slopes ranging from 30 to 50 degrees, with certain sections of the glacier featuring crevasses.

During her descent, Abegg encountered a setback when she lost a crampon, an experience that left her wishing she’d brought along an ice axe, as highlighted by Patagonia Vertical.

Understanding Cerro Solo

Cerro Solo stands at 2,121 meters and is typically climed in a single day starting from Laguna Grande, which is approximately a 2.5-hour trek from El Chaltén. The summit is a popular destination known for its stunning views of the Fitz Roy massif, Cerro Torre, and the expansive surrounding icefields.

Jenny Abegg has had a lifelong passion for climbing and exploration, officially beginning her FKT pursuits in 2019. Her records, many set in the United States, can be tracked on the FKT website.

In Patagonia, she notably achieved two remarkable FKTs in 2022. She first completed the ambitious Vuelta al Hielo (Southern Continental Ice Tour) in an astounding 15 hours and 29 minutes, a trek that typically requires a week. Abegg also conquered the 64-kilometer Huemul Circuit in 11 hours, 48 minutes, and 52 seconds, a journey that generally spans four days from El Chaltén.

Source
explorersweb.com