Marcos José Couch (born June 14, 1960 in Buenos Aires), Argentinemountain climber, known for his professional achievements in mountains such as the Shishapangma in Tibet, or the Fitz RoyinPatagonia. Since 1987 he is a mountain guide and has been working internationally.
Marcos Couch is the oldest son of Richard Arden Couch and Beatriz Melano. His father, US citizen, was Doctor in Theology and a priest at the US Presbyterian Church, and his mother, Argentine, was Master in Literature at the University of Buenos Aires and Doctor in Theology.
The professional activity of his parents gave him the experience of living in different countries during their childhood. They lived most of their lives in Buenos Aires, in the neighbor of Flores; but they also lived in Pittsburgh, USA (1963–64), Strasbourg, France (1970–71) and Bangalore, India (1978). His younger sisters are Ana Gabriela and Johanna Ruth.
Marcos Couch studied Philosophy at University Del Salvador in Buenos Aires and theater at the National School of Dramatic Art (today National University of Arts). However he dedicated his entire life to his third career, Mountain Guiding. He obtained his qualification from the AAGM (Asociación Argentina de Guías de Montaña), later ratify by the IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Association).
Thanks to his language skills, he worked for travel agencies located in France, Belgium, United States, United Kingdom and Canada, taking adventurous tourists to the mountains all over the globe.
Backcountry
Marcos Couch started his mountain activity very young. At the age of 18 (1978) he was part of the second ascent to the Cerro Moreno, on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
In 2004 he moved to Bariloche in the Argentine Patagonia where he enjoys practicing alpine ski, backcountry ski, windsurf, kayak paddling, climbing and hiking.
He has always been passionate about photography. Lately he published some of his work and displayed his photographs in San Carlos de Bariloche and Buenos Aires city.
1987: He starts his guiding for the Allibert Agency (France). Argentina: Aconcagua 6961 meters. Peru: Huascarán, 6800 metres, Ausangate 6400 meters, Chachani 6050 meters. Ecuador: Cotopaxi volcano. And also guiding in mountains of in India, Nepal and Tibet.
1988: Opening of the Vía del Orco (climbing route) at the Cerro Catedral, Argentine Patagonia.
Argentine
