For the fifth consecutive year was held in Vallecitos the Ice Climbing Festival, a valid ranking by the World Championship stage specialty. The Ice Park also served to Mendoza and tourists to learn more about the exciting sport. With a good frame of public and participants and excellent weather conditions took place on 14 and 15 July in the mountain town of Vallecitos the fifth edition of Vallecitos Ice Climbing Festival, organized by the company Ventonegro Mountain Guide Company. The Ice Park prepared for it included a series of artificial icefall organizers placed in a beautiful creek bordering the winding road leading to the old ski resort. The land was available for athletes since June, but it was the weekend of 14 and 15 July when the final event was played in Elite and Amateur categories, both male and female. Along with Chile Portillo Ice Fest, was a stage of world ice climbing championship organized by the International Union of Associations of climbing. Tens of intrepid climbers from different countries and different provinces of Argentina, equipped with helmets, ice axes, crampons, harnesses and ropes, he encouraged the vertical walls and icy hills Vallecitos in the usual framework of joy and camaraderie that distinguishes the mountain lovers. Each competitor, by category, with pickaxes in hand approached the steep ice route, supported by ropes by an insurer. The challenge was to reach the highest point of the wall, in the shortest time possible, always keeping at least one supporting point on the inclined wall. The expected route for all Tooling Dry Mode, which ran from first string under a ceiling of stalactites and frozen rock, consecrated the historic route as one of the most demanding sport routes ice climbing today in Mendoza. The winners in the Elite Men category were: Francisco Alcaraz Mendoza Cunietti Horacio Mendoza and Ariel Ruiz de Bahia Blanca. In the Elite Women’s category winners were: Angie Gelvez Vallecitos, and Luz Maria Jose Moises Rodriguez, Mendoza. The Amateur coupon category was formed by Roberto podium Tramandoni Bahia Blanca and Moises de Oliveira of Porto Alegre, Brazil. After the sports day, climbers gathered in tents provided by the Base Camp to share the prize with live music and bar drinks to share. There were also activities such as workshops open to the public climbing as a way to make initial contact with the sport. They were held in a nearby waterfall to the competition, run by professional instructors and included equipment and a brief explanation of the sporting gesture. The Ice Climbing Festival is part of the annual schedule of activities conducted by the company Ventonegro. It is transmitted to other countries through the support of TV Globo Internacional TV, ESPN and TyC Sports, among others. Are sponsored by brands like Ferrino, world leader in mountain equipment Ropes and Maxim, a leading manufacturer of climbing ropes USA. The organizers have proposed to provide more services and attention to the viewer for next issues due to increasing success. Ultimately the idea aims to encourage and promote the practice of ice climbing and rock, and summon more and more followers to an activity that anyone with the right equipment and guidance, can practice in Mendoza. (More: www.ventonegro.com.ar) Humberto Câmara Junior DE LOS ANDES Humberto BRAZIL Câmara Junior Sports is the creator and responsible for the successful Ice Climbing Festival. Mountain lover since childhood, was in his country where he took his first steps in the activity. Like many Brazilians, was forever captivated by the Andes Mountains, and it was 10 years ago and decided to reside in Mendoza and develop steadily all related and mountain climbing activities. I am 31 years old and in Mendoza for over 10 years now. In Brazil we are privileged places for rock climbing and canyoning, which is down the road from the water with ropes. There comes a time scale that sport who rock, rock and adventurous life we all want access mountaineer is to climb an icy mountain at high altitude, with snow and ice. That came to Mendoza and one day I was. It came 2 or 3 times a year and while I liked it, I’m here. Junior explains that the company that integrates organizes expeditions, teaches courses in rock climbing, etc., and this event we do with our spare both time and money, to encourage the activity, so that more people will come and they miss the myth that is very difficult and dangerous. To display existing courses, and equipment is an activity that influences thousands of people, companies and brands. Its origin is said Junior mountaineering. These techniques are used in its sports version concentrated equipment previously used to climb a mountain, are now specially developed for this sports version, which allows people to practice more closely, without having to move around on the coordinates 5000 meters, to develop this practice. As Vallecitos, defined as a special place, the waterfalls are artificially formed and secrecy is the place. We have the conditions for frozen waterfalls much like what is seen in the walls of large mountains, offering the possibility for people to specialize through courses and guided climbing form, and provides a place great for experienced practitioners.
