“Al Sur del Volcán Lautaro, sobre las costas del Fiordo Andrew, existe otro gran volcán. Se llama "Aguilera", tiene una altura de 2.545 m y fue bautizado por el Padre De Agostini quien lo divisó desde el Cerro Mayo, en memoria de Abraham Aguilera, primer vicario apostólico de Punta Arenas, muerto en Ancud en el año 1933, De Agostini sin embargo no sabía que se trataba de un estrato-volcán. La verdadera naturaleza del Cerro Aguilera fue reconocida recién por la expedición científica chileno-británica que intentó ascenderlo en el año 1985.”(Cuadernos Patagónicos Tecpetrol)
Hasta la fecha, el Aguilera tiene 6 intentos de ascención, registrados de esta forma por Alpine Journal:
1985: Chilean-British expedition led by F. Medina and M. Hickman
1989: Japanese-Chilean expedition led by Eiho Otani and including the chilean Eduardo García
1993: British expedition led by James 'Skip' Novak with Francis McDermot, Peter Evans and Hamish Laird
2003: David Hillebrandt, Nick Banks, Allan Richards and Chris Smith
2004: David Hillebrandt and Chris Smith
2005: David Hillebrandt, Chris Smith and Steve Hartland
Anglo--Chilean Expedition to S Patagonian Ice-Cap (13 November-23 December 1985) This team of seven British and four Chileans, led by Matthew Hickman, carried out an exploratory scientific survey in the Seno Andrew area of SW Chile, as well as attempting the ascent of Cerro Aguilera (2438m). Both the climb and the crossing of the Patagonian ice-cap were abandoned because of severe weather.
British Aguilera 2003 Dr David Hillebrandt with Nick Banks, Allan Richards and Chris Smith. October-November 2003 Cerro Agui1era (c2438m) is an isolated unclimbed peak on the western edge of the South Patagonia ice cap and a much desired objective for those oblivious to the local weather. Two previous expeditions (FreemanAttwood's
98/01 and Hillebrandt's own 00/07A) had failed even to reach the peak, but following contact with the leader of an unsuccessful attempt (Matthew Hickrnan, 85/37) Hillebrandt felt confident. Good weather over the first few days enabled them to become established on a southern ridge, and even make the first ascent of a subsidiary peak, which gave a depressing view of Aguilera. Then the Patagonian weather hit them and buried their camp in two metres of snow, putting an end to any further attempt.
Incredibly, Hillebrandt plans to go back again in 2004 - presumably to add to the record of 150 books and incalculable games of Patience, Five Hundred and Scrabble already played in some seven months stuck in damp tents in ferocious local storms. (MEF 03/03)
British Aguilera 2004 David Hillebrandt with Chris Smith.
OctoberNovember 2004
British explorers are nothing if not determined: ever since reading of an isolated peak on the Wilcox Peninsula of Chilean Patagonia spotted by Tilman in 1957, Hillebrandt has been hoping to make its first ascent. In the past he has not even managed to reach the mountain - Cerro Aguilera
(2438m) - but this time, after taking 14 days to penetrate the swamp and temperate jungle he and his companion found themselves in a beautiful Hidden Valley. They compared their feelings to those of the first people to penetrate the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. Above this they set foot on the glacier snout and donned crampons for the first time. Unfortunately the approach had taken far more time and energy than anticipated, and they were forced to abandon the climb at a height of 1291m. As a consolation, during the approach they managed to bag another minor peak which gave them a good view of their objective, and inevitably a return visit is in the pipeline. MEF Ref 04/17
Welsh Western Patagonia 2005 Chris Smith with Steve Hartland and David Hillebrandt. September-November 2005 These stalwarts with short memories returned to Patagonia in the hope of at last making the first ascent of Cerro Aguilera (2500m). During some of their previous attempts they had not even set foot on the mountain, but in 2004 [MEF 04/17] they found what seemed to be a satisfactory approach from the south-east, so this year were hopeful of topping out.
Alas, the elements were against them once again with only two days of 'good' weather during four weeks in the area. The wind was so strong at one stage that their tent 'exploded'. MEF 05/41
