Raimundo De Andraca, Fernanda Carabias establish big new climb on La Zaranda in Patagonia

Chilean mountain guide Raimundo De Andraca and Fernanda Carabias have established Sin obstáculos no hay camino (Without obstacles, there is no path), a 600-meter big wall on the massive granite peak of La Zaranda. The wall is located 30 km north of Villa Mañihuales in the Aysén region of Chilean Patagonia.

The pair began establishing the route in the summer of 2024, continued working on it in 2025, and returned this season to complete the first ascent from 16-20 January. The route has difficulties up to 5.12– with sections of A1 aid.

On his Instagram account, De Andraca described the climbing as featuring "Very good cracks of all sizes, chimneys, offwidths, and technical slab sections to connect crack systems. Difficulties from 5+, with several pitches concentrated at 5.11 and 5.12-, and two pitches at 5.13? (which can be passed at A1)."

During the first ascent, two sections were climbed using A2 aid. On the descent, a bolt was added to one of these sections to make the route slightly safer for future parties. The line is protected primarily by traditional gear in the cracks, with the occasional bolt to connect different crack systems.

In a statement to planetmountain, De Andraca said, "The route provides excellent climbing on superb granite. We put in a lot of effort to clean it and make it both enjoyable and safe for others to repeat. There's also a great bivy site at pitch 7."

It is worth noting that Sin obstáculos no hay camino is only the third route on La Zaranda. Given the cliff's exceptional proximity to the road - a mere 15-minute walk from the Carretera Austral highway, Chile's legendary Route 7 - it is bound to attract more attention in the future.