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Veteran Crack Climbers Free New Patagonia Route

Trad pros Pete Whittaker and Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll repeated a new-for-2023 route established by two young brother

Not long after two teenage brothers who are newish to alpine rock climbing opened a new route in Patagonia, two veteran crack climbers repeated it freeing the aid pitches and complimenting the FA team.

Pedro Odell and Tomás Odell established the 550-metre Yacaré on Rafael Juarez in the Fitz Roy massif at the start of February. They freed steep cracks up to 5.11 but had to aid some wide sections. Pete Whittaker and Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll were more than happy to repeat the splitter line, freeing the remaining sections at 5.12.

Villanueva O’Driscoll and Whittaker are two of the best crack climbers going, but Villanueva O’Driscoll has over a decade of experience in Patagonia whereas this was Whittaker’s first trip.

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