Marta and Chester's Maleficent Adventures

2024-12-25 Baja – Cerro Chiva – top 10 scramble of 2024

What makes a great scramble?Uncertainty of getting to the top; no beta – just a topographic map and visual assessment where the route may be; sufficient scrambling to get a buzz of being alive, and surprises. Cerro Chiva had it all.

Sunrise caught up with us on the slopes
Initially the route was straightforward. The only unknown was vegetation. How badly would it oppose our progress?
Smile of relief – not bad at all. We enjoyed cooler temperatures for the first few kilometres
Our approximate route up. The actual peak is not visible.
The upcoming section looked straight forward but it was an illusion. It got steep and vegetation got denser and thorny.
On the way up I had a thorny encounter with choja. I got three balls of choja stuck into my knee and two to my leather gloves. Not only it was crazy painful, but I had trouble getting rid of these nasty thrones ending with hooks. I neglected to take a photo.
Chester was not super sympathetic to my encounter until, on the way back, he run into the same choja. I at least had a protection of my clothes. He got it bare handed – he is always better at things😄
We finally reached the ridge. It looked ok at first.
Until it was not.
This was not the way to go. We spotted a steep ramp to climber’s right which led us up.
Rock quality improved, at least for a bit. Chester is way ahead of me.
Once I climbed the highest bulder I realized this is only a sub-peak. Chester is waiting for me at the next high point. And this is not it either.
Ahead of us is an exposed ridge with doubtful quality rock. Unclear if it will go. We push forward and make it. As usual when it got exciting I did not take any photos.
Chester almost cleared the ugly bit
Marta follows. Below us nasty drop. You don’t want to loose your footing here.
Luxury of good rock
Same spot from above
We can smell the victory
Conglomerate bulder is the last obstacle to get the summit of Cerro Chiva. Luckily it is solid
We enjoy sitting on the summit. Temperature is reasonable or we got used to heat?
We choose different route back, below the crazy ridge.
All good so far
Down we go
More scree to clear
Delica and Chester patiently waiting for me with lunch. I am almost home.
Chester Fitchett
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