Guía de Montaña / Mountain Guide / Guia de Montanha
Hike Refuge Frey (by Villa Catedral)
Unmissable trekking to connect with nature, bordering Mount Catedral, crossing forests where woodpeckers live and crossing streams that are the product of thaws. We will visit the picturesque refuge from 1957 with the beautiful Toncek lagoon behind it and the needles of the mountains like a Gothic cathedral.
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 10 km approximately (one way)
Hut Height: 1,700 masl
Duration: 4/5 hs. (one way)
Interesting Sites: Gutierrez Lake Viewpoint, Van Titter Stream, Petricek Bivouac Hut (Little Rocks), Toncek Lagoon, Schmoll Lagoon.
Others: If you want to have a different experience you can hike to the Frey through the Ridge, where you can access by chair of ski center, having a privileged view of the mountain range. Frey Hut is the first of the 4 Refuges Mountain Traverse, so you can extend the trekking.
The mountain hut is on Mount Catedral, located a few kilometers from the city of Bariloche and was inaugurated in 1957, named after "Emilio Frey", the first mayor of the Nahuel Huapi National Park and president of the CAB (Bariloche Andean Club).
In the first part of the trekking we skirt the hillside of the Mount Catedral, contemplating the imposing view of the Gutierrez Lake and above the Mount "Ventana" (Window).
The building is constructed of stone walls and is one of the most picturesque in the area for the carving of granite, lintels and edges. The interior is clad in wood and its roof is made of tiles. It is located at an altitude of 1700 masl. It is open all year.
Upon reaching the Van Titter Stream we enter a High Forest of "Lengas" (Nothofagus pumilio), being able to hear and see several bird species.
Behind the hut, we find the Toncek Lagoon, between the northern and southern part of the Mount Cathedral. It is one kilometer long, 18 meters deep and 500 square meters in area. Its waters are green, it receives water from the Schmoll Lagoon.
If you are looking to have a greater experience, you can do the hike Frey through the Ridge, which is accessed by the lifts of the ski center, having a privileged view of the mountain range.
Surrounding the lagoon we find the rocky needles of its summit, where there are always climbers. In the surroundings of the hut, we have a beautiful view of the valley, it is a must to contemplate while having lunch or drinking mate.
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