Fowler Off To Patagonia

Notoriously hard but understated climber and mild-mannered tax man Mick Fowler is off on a new expedition in September, this time to attempt a new route on the second highest peak in Patagonia, Cerro San Lorenzo.


Fowler - above - will be leading a team of four on the 3,700-metre mountain and aiming to put up a new route on the steep east wall.  The wall is apparently divided by the east ridge, which was climbed in 1986, but the sheer faces on either side of the ridge are still unclimbed.

The team will be working in two pairs, Fowler climbing with Es Tressider while Steve Burns and Ian Cartwright make up the other partnership. Fowler's an interesting and engaging character who's managed to combine a high-powered career in the Inland Revenue with mountaineering at the very highest level.

In fact he's reluctant to become a full time climber because, he once told us, because having a full time career keeps the mountains special. That said, he's still supported by Berghaus and will be using clothing and kit from their Extrem range during the expedition.

Mick comments:
“It looks like Cerro San Lorenzo will present us with some magnificent mountaineering challenges.  The chief problems we will face are expected to be getting there, technical climbing and perhaps most significantly, extreme weather, but we are optimistic and really looking forward to the trip.”

The team departs on 17 September and updates on their progress will appear on www.berghaus.com