Piuquenes Pass (Andes Crossing)

Following the historic path used by the Army of the Andes in 1817, this 6-day trans-Andean expedition traverses the central cordillera from Mendoza, Argentina, to the Cajón del Maipo in Chile. The route crosses two significant high-altitude barriers—Portillo Argentino (4,330m) and Paso Piuquenes (4,030m). Hikers move through a high desert landscape of volcanic rock, vast glacial valleys, and the powerful Tunuyán River. The terrain consists primarily of rocky mountain paths, loose scree on the steeper pass approaches, and high-altitude plateaus where exposure to wind and sun is constant.

While the Ebenalp is most famous for the Aescher cliff-restaurant, the true adventurer continues upward to the Schäfler ridge. This hike follows the 'Dragon’s Back' of the Alpstein, a series of increasingly jagged limestone peaks leading toward the mighty Säntis. The view from the Schäfler hut (1,925m) across the Altenalptürm—a row of vertical rock fins—is arguably the most dramatic ridge view in Europe. The return trip involves a technical descent to the jewel-green Seealpsee, where the reflection of the mountains creates an almost unreal alpine scene.