Video: Fitz Roy BASE jump in Patagonia

At the start of January a team of experienced Russian alpinists successfully completed the first BASE jump from the summit ridge of Fitz Roy in Patagonia following a challenging three-day climb of Royal Flush on the mountain's east face. Boris Egorov, Vladimir Murzaev and Konstantin Jäämurd waited a full month in El Chaltén for optimal weather before launching their attempt in early January. The three were joined by friend Ilya Kull and later merged forces with American climbers Will Fazio and Zach Dreher.

After reaching their optimal jumping position on January 7 — located approximately 300 meters below the summit and identified by local expert Rolando Garibotti - the three jumpers descended by wingsuit while their partners continued to the summit and carried down nearly all of the team's valuable gear.

The wingsuit flight, lasting 2 minutes and 40 seconds before canopy deployment, represents one of the world's largest altitude differentials for such an endeavor. Talking to planetmountain after the endeavour, Egorov summed up the successful mission as "a huge wall, a multi-day ascent, and a brand-new, stunning exit. A perfect setup" noting that success came about through "Real luck - earned through a lifetime of experience."