'Kundalini' added to Cuerno Norte in Torres del Paine (Patagonia) by Nicolas Navarrete, Sebastian Pelletti, Hernan Rodriguez

On 13 and 14 February 2025 Nicolas Navarrete, Sebastian Pelletti and Hernan Rodriguez made the first ascent of Kundalini, a 700-meter line that weaves its way up the East Face of Cuerno Norte in Patagonia's Torres del Paine massif. The mountain is located at the end of the remote Bader Valley and, after a long approach and a bivy at the base of the face, the climbers spent two days forging the route alpine style. This takes an entirely independent line to the right of the first route in the Bader valley, A fistful of dollars (Martin Doyle, Oliver Sanders, Louise Thomas, Mike Turner, 1994), and went free at 7a.

The trio encountered steep rock and made one bivouac in their Grade 7 inflatable portaledges at three-quarters height, following a long traverse to the right. They summited the next day and descended via the normal route. As per usual, no bolts or pegs were added, and the only gear that was left in-situ was a line of rappels.

Pelletti, who works as a mountain guide in the park, has been rapidly claiming prime lines in the massif. Last December, he and Rodriguez made the first ascents of Alborada (5.11+, 600m) on the west face of Cerro Mascara and Ultima Ronda (AI3 M4, 700m) on the previously unclimbed south face of Cerro Trono Blanco, while in February 2024 the pair established Arma de doble filo (5.11+, A1, 800m) on the East Face of La Espada. Earlier, in 2022, Pelletti and other climbing partners established Cuarzo Menguante on the East Face of La Hoja and achieved the coveted first ascent of Cuerno Este.

Info: www.pataclimb.com, www.painemountainguides.com