Climbing Nevado Pissis (Catamarca)

Pissis is the third highest mountain in the Andes. It is located in the province of Catamarca and despite its beauty and importance it is still a mountain that is not very visited, although nowadays there are some services that facilitate the access and the climbing.

This tracklog includes all the way from the international road to Mar del Plata, which is the base camp of this mountain.

The track also has all the way to the summit, which is the same as the one done on the descent.

Since it is one of the highest mountains in the Andes, it requires a good acclimatisation.

Climbing Nevado Pissis (6,793m) in Catamarca, Argentina, is an expedition to the third-highest peak in the Americas and the second-highest volcano in the world. Located in the hyper-arid High Andes of the Atacama Desert, it is a highly remote, physically demanding high-altitude endeavor.

While it lacks steep technical vertical walls, its primary challenges are extreme altitude, bitter cold, crushing winds, and complete geographical isolation

️ Expedition Logistics & Route Overview

Climbing itineraries typically span 12 to 15 days to ensure safe, methodical acclimatization.

• The Hub: Expeditions typically group and launch from Fiambalá, a desert oasis town in Catamarca.
• Approach Route: Vehicles travel via Ruta Nacional 60 (the famous Ruta de los Seismiles), branching off onto rugged 4x4 tracks. A high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is mandatory.
• The Normal Route (North Face / Nevero Norte): This is the classic line. It is an open glacier/snowfield slope that leads directly to the primary summit ridge.
• Key Campsites:
  • Acclimatization Base: Laguna Verde or Las Cortaderas (~3,400m to 4,300m).
  • Base Camp: Mar del Plata (~4,700m).
  • High Camp 1: Fiambalá (~5,300m) or Glacier Camp (~5,900m depending on strategy).

Difficulty & Requirements

• Technical Difficulty: Basic to Intermediate. The standard route consists of a long, sustained walk over volcanic scree, loose rocks, and hard glacier ice/snow.
• Physical Demands: Extreme. You will carry heavy loads, set up camps in severe mountain weather, and make a massive summit-day push at nearly 6,800m.
• Climate Danger: Sub-zero temperatures drop well below -20°C (-4°F). Powerful wind storms (Zonda winds) frequently alter routes and freeze exposed skin instantly.
• Optimal Climbing Season: From December to March, which provides marginally warmer conditions and stable daylight.

Required Equipment

Because Nevado Pissis is a true high-altitude mountaineering environment, you must pack specialized gear:

• Footwear & Traction: Heavy double or triple mountaineering boots, crampons, and a straight mountaineering ice axe.
• Shelter: A rugged, 4-season geodesic mountain tent designed to survive high-velocity winds.
• Layering: -20°C rated down parkas, heavy fleece layers, windproof hardshell jackets, and heavy-duty mittens.
• Water & Fuel: Multi-fuel expedition stoves (gas canisters struggle to vaporize in extreme cold and high altitudes).

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