16 December 1913

In Chile, Clodomiro Figueroa (1886-1958) topped the list for persistence, courage and ingenuity. He made the first attempts at crossing the Andes but his efforts were unsuccessful. Mounting a fragile Blériot XI with an 80 hp Anzani engine, he took off on the morning of December 16, 1913 from a pasture at the foot of Cerro La Virgen with the intention of reaching Mendoza, but strong winds prevented sufficient progress. The Andes would resist crossings until 1918.