Appropriate season

Ramón may be climbed all year round. However, the shorter days of the winter months must be taken into account; they demand moving quickly in the mountain; it is a long climb. Also, the snow magnifies physical wear and tear, and the possibility of a sizeable storm isn't negligible. Also, the use of crampons and ice axe becomes necessary. Some parts have a steep grade and the wind regularly sweeps the snow, leaving only a hard crust. During the summer, on the other hand, solar radiation and heat play against climbers, who should take significant precautions to avoid dehydration and exposure to the sun.

Access

Drive all the way up to the end of Av. José Arrieta. Here, you will run into the SEK University. Turn right on Alvaro Casanova and continue until reaching the entrance to a housing development at your left. At the entrance there is a sign that signals the entrance to the Old Grangonians Club (club of the alumni of the Grange high school). Tell the guard of the housing development that you are going to this club and continue toward the mountain via the main street, until the end, where you will find a barrier with a guard restricting entry to the club. Once you have obtained permission to enter, continue via the highest street, until arriving to the club parking lot.

Approach

There is no approach.

The climb

From the parking lot of the Old Grangonians Club (955m), continue toward the mountain, passing by the club house and across the golf course until running into a fence with a gate. Cross the fence and climb the hill that encloses the stream on the south, passing left of a tower of a high voltage line. (VerFoto2). Continue ahead until running into a well marked trail that is marked every few meters with circles of white paint. These paint marks will continue showing the way until practically the end of the climb. Depending on the way chosen initially to climb the hill, you will run into this trail while it continues climbing up the hill or when it turns to the left to wind up the creek.

At an altitude of 1350m the trail leaves the ridgeline of the hill and turns to the left, winding up the creek. The trail continues fairly level, in the middle of the hillside, gaining very little altitude until arriving at the source of the stream in a place known as Casa de Piedra (VerFoto3). At this site (1560m), enclosed in a beautiful forest of quillay, peumo and litre trees, the trail runs into the stream which tumbles down to the bottom of the creek. This place seems appropriate to stay overnight; one can count on the shelter of a large rock right at the side of the water. Nevertheless, it's not recommended as a campsite, due to the proximity of the city. It is not in any case a secure place to leave equipment during an assault on the summit; besides, the distance to here represents a very small gain in the trail to the summit. This is a good place to resupply with water.

Just before the stream, the trail turns towards the right and faces the slope, penetrating into the forest to start the ascent which, after 700 meters of altitude gain, reaches the ridgeline that connects the peak called "Abanico" with Cerro La Cruz. At the beginning, the trail proceeds fairly firmly, but the final 300 meters go up a loose and exhausting scree slope (VerFoto7). Finally, you arrive at the end of the climb, (2250m) and you gain the ridge that separates the river valleys of Peñalolén and Macul. Timing to this point: 3 - 4 hrs.

An alternate route to avoid the exhausting scree slope is to continue via a trail that climbs directly to the summit of Abanico, instead of turning to the left into the Peñalolén Creek. From the summit of Abanico, continue toward the northeast via the ridgeline that connects with La Cruz, regaining the normal trail. This route has the disadvantage of avoiding Casa de Piedra, and therefore the possibility of resupplying with water, but saving much strength. For the descent, you can go down via the scree slope. (VerFoto1).

From the ridgeline, you can see the summit of Ramón for the first time, and also that of Punta de Damas. This is a good place to stop a bit and replenish energies, and at the same time enjoy the view of Santiago immediately below your feet (if the smog permits). From here, the trail continues via the ridgeline to the north, always designated with paint markings on the rocks and a well marked trail. Continue for a bit on the ridgeline and later leave it to traverse below the summit of La Cruz (VerFoto4). Continuing until the pass between La Cruz and the rocky ridge that goes east towards Ramón. Here there are two alternatives to continue the climb. The first, and most recommended during the ascent, is to go over the pass to the north side of the ridge, and continue via a trail that avoids the most complicated sections of rocks. (VerFoto6). This rocky section is known as "Los Camellos" (the camels), due to the shape the rocky massif takes. The other alternative, recommended for the descent, continues the traverse further on and later climbs back up scree slopes until arriving once again at the ridgeline. If you choose this way for the descent, you must fix well the point where you abandon the ridge. This is marked with a great monolith of rock that can be seen climbing painted with a big white painted circle and descending with an arrow painted that points toward the descent. This point coincides also with an inflexion in the ridgeline between a pre-summit and it's respective "false summit" (2700m aprox.) (VerFoto4).

At the point where the two possible routes of ascent join, and in the nearby area, you can establish a high camp if you want to do the climb in two days. There is a group of small stone shelters to protect you from the wind and normally, and on the south side of the ridge, there is snow to melt (carry enough water in summer and fall; don't count on the snow). Also, this point is far enough from the city so that you can leave camping equipment while you climb to the summit, without risk (or very little) of robbery.

Once on the upper ridge the route runs without complications over a series of climbs and descents, without gaining much altitude, until running into the final climb that ends in the summit of Ramón (VerFoto5). This final climb ascends 400-500 meters and goes over scree and snowfields. Total time to the summit: 6 - 9 hours.

The descent is done via the same route in between 3 and 5 hours, depending on each person's pace.

Recommendations

To enter the Old Grangonians Club, early in the morning, you should ask permission in advance, so that the guard is warned. To do this, call 279-1503 or write an email to gerencia.ogc@terra.cl.

Take a lot of water (more than 3 liters per person per day).

Start the climb very early, to leave plenty of time for the return.

This climb during one day is a hard test. Remember that the climb doesn't finish at the summit; you must be very conscious of your own capabilities and reserve the energy and time needed for a safe descent.

In a dry year, the stream that runs down the creek could dry out during the summer. Act accordingly and carry water without depending on a place to replenish water.

Gear

Good hiking boots

Trekking poles

Crampons and ice axe (in winter)

Shell jacket

Headlamp (recommended in case of a possible night descent)

Hat and sunscreen

Schedule

Schedule 1

1. Santiago - Summit - Santiago

Hard itinerary that demands being in very good physical condition.

Schedule 2

1. Santiago - High Camp
2. High Camp - Summit - Santiago

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Subimos el Sábado 14 Noviembre con Juan Pablo, Sebastián y Santiago, por la Quebrada de Peñalolén (entrando por un hoyo grande en la reja frente al terminal de micros de Av Las Torres). Al principio hay varios senderos y hay que estar atentos al gas. En sector casa de piedra hay abundante agua para recargar. Remontamos por el sur del acarreo hasta llegar al Abanico. Luego la pasada hacia el Cerro La Cruz es relativamente sencilla. Los pasos de roca son demandantes (leer recomendación de JP Riquelme más abajo). No sé cómo es la alternativa por el sur del filo de las rocas para subir (vimos bastante gente bajando por ahí). Llegando a la base del ataque final a la cumbre aún quedaba agua en "la gotera" donde recargamos. Ataque final es pesado. Llegamos con equipo de campamento en jornada total de 11hrs (contando descansos). En la cumbre quedan varios planchones de nieve para derretir). El Domingo nos fuimos hacia el Provincia (3hrs), y luego bajamos por San Carlos de Apoquindo (3hrs + 1 hr de descanso en la cumbre). 

Subimos el dia 31 de octubre de 2020, pasando por el cerro abanico, luego tomando el filo hasta el cerro la cruz, ruta sin mayor complicaciones, algunos pasos de rocas que no representan mayor dificultad (entre el abanico y la cruz), luego tomamos el paso de los camellos, para montar al filo final que lleva a la cumbre del san ramón, (hasta este punto la ruta es clara y marcada, el paso de los camellos presenta varios trepes de dificultad media a alta en algunos ocaciones, se recomienda realizarla con luz de dia y con mucho cuidado y tomándose el tiempo necesario para reducir el riesgo al minimo, ojala con un buen calzado rígido o semirigido ya que estos facilitan y brindan mayor seguridad en cada paso, no se recomienda el paso de los camellos para el retorno ya que es muy arriesgado y el riesgo de caida es inminente, para evitar este paso a la vuelta se recomienda el desvio que va por a cara sur del paso de los camellos, bajando por una pendiente moderada y bastante acarreo, donde podrían encontrace los últimos neveros en esta época del año.

Una vez superado el paso de los camellos continuar por el filo en direccion a la cumbre, donde puden encontrarse varias pircas donde armar un campamento alto, ojala lo mas cercano a la cumbre, para asi hacer mas liviano el dia de ataque de cumbre, en este ultimo sector del filo, deben superarce las ultimas dos lomas antes de llegar al desnivel final que lleva a la cumbre, tambien quedan algunos manchones de nieve donde es posible sacar agua, respecto al clima nos toco un dia bastante agradable, con poco viento incluso hasta en la cumbre, y la sensación térmica muy amigable también, ascenso realizado en 3 dias, tranquilamente y sin apuros y disfrutando el paisaje.

Nos demoramos aproximadamente 8 horas en hacer cumbre, ya que íbamos con mucho peso y dormimos a los pies del cerro Ramón.

mucha nieve blanda.. invernal 

Hola, eh subido por la canaleta derecha del cajón del muerto, aquí se asciende rápido al desfiladero pero es una ruta peligrosa ya que posee muchos pasos con terreno resbaloso.

Subí a través del Parque Quebrada de Macul, una vez en el abanico se alcanza el desfiladero (bastante viento, llevar buen abrigo). La ruta es clara, el ultimo tramo antes de llegar a la cubre hay mucho desnivel pero con calma se puede llegar a la cima. 

Subimos la cruz y luego pasamos a san ramon por el paso de los camellos

Poca nieve, agradable temperatura