After three failed attempts, American alpinist Colin Haley has finally climbed the Southeast Ridge of Cerro Torre, and a new short film called Behind the Climb documents exactly how it happened — from midnight starts to soggy handholds to the long rappel down.
Haley calls the route a modern classic, but it had beaten him twice before, both times on the Ice Towers section. The climb splits into three parts: the Haston Crack, the Ice Towers, and the Headwall. On his latest attempt, he partnered with Tyler Karow, who had his own history with the mountain — he'd tried the Ice Towers years ago, back when they actually lived up to their name. Now much of that ice has melted, and Karow predicts the formations will look drastically different within a decade. It's a quiet reminder of how quickly Patagonian alpine routes are changing.
The pair's strategy was all about timing: start so early that the sun had barely finished setting, effectively taking an evening nap before climbing through the night. The idea was to catch the Ice Towers frozen solid while the Headwall above was still warmed by sunlight. The plan mostly worked, though melting snow left the rock on the Headwall running with water — an unwelcome complication Haley admits undercut their careful scheduling.
Despite the wet holds, Haley moved steadily upward. With a few pitches left, the self-described pessimist allowed himself to believe the summit was actually within reach. The film captures the moment he tops out, grinning at the camera — while the voiceover reveals he's already fretting about the descent. True to its behind-the-scenes promise, the footage follows the pair all the way back down the rappel lines rather than ending on the summit high.
Their post-climb verdict? Both men said simply that their hands hurt. Not everyone climbs for the poetry.
Why should a regular traveller care? Cerro Torre looms over El Chaltén, the small trekking town in Argentine Patagonia, and even non-climbers can see it up close on the popular Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre hikes. Behind the Climb is a genuinely engaging watch for anyone dreaming about Patagonia — it shows what the region's weather, rock and ice demand from those who take on its biggest objectives, and it makes the views from the valley trails feel all the more earned. If you're planning a trip to El Chaltén, watching the film beforehand is a great way to understand the mountain you'll be staring at over mate.
