Dec 20 - 31
Patagonia is a geographic region that encompasses the southernmost part of South America . It is located in Argentina and Chile , and includes the section of the southern Andes , towards the southwest to the Pacific Ocean. To the west, includes the territory of Valdivia , through the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego - drawn together by the Andes and the most amazing mountain scenery - suited to climbers, walkers and cyclists alike.
We started in El Chalten - the home of the mountain climbers and walkers. We started our first day by a walk to Mt Fitzroy base - a long 6hr walk - pretty much uphill for half the time but the view at the top was spectacular - you can't imagine how the mountaineers climb it - it's so steep in parts.
I was shattered after this climb and could only just sink on the bed to relax.....until our next climb the next day to Cerro Torre - not as hard but about 3hrs each way, nevertheless.....A magnificent view when you reach the top viewing point as it is so unexpected to see the glaciers and lake and mountain all so clearly and so surreal in a way....it was so cold in parts that my down jacket and beanie and 3 other layers were all needed....
The food here is pretty good so we went to a Parrilla restaurant where they have all sorts of Barbequed Meats cooked to perfection and delicious vegies and salads.......a great reward after some difficult climbing days.
From here we went to Calafate just prior to Christmas and went to see the Perito Moreno Glacier - the amazing site you see when a glacier is depicted eg on the front of the Lonely Planet Guide to Argentina - the set up there is terrific - we firstly did the boat trip that takes you to see the glacier - 60metres high - from it's base - we could hear cracking sounds and saw some calving (where the ice breaks away from the glacier and falls into the water - creating waves and really quite a loud noise). Then we went to the huge boardwalk which takes you from one end of the glacier to the other - amazing engineering - it weaves around the outskirts of the Glacier so you get to see it from all positions.
Puerto Natalas to Torres del Paine:
Porters carried tents and food and a few of our things into park - we were going camping for 4 days in the park. Walk in 4 hrs up hill difficult - great to reach out campsite Zapata. From here we walked to see Ichthyosaur fossil by the river in a huge rock - in 2 parts, the another day to Condor Ledge - very difficult climb up a waterfall where I was hanging on by my fingertips and toe tips at times and at others just launching myself at a rock in the hope of catching it.......my fear factor has gone but it was difficult at times.....
Views of the Torres del Paine with Paine massif, which is an eastern spur of the Andes located on the east side of the Grey Glacier, rising dramatically above the Patagonian steppe.(from Wikipaedia) were amazing.
Pato, our cook made great meals when we returned to camp after our day long treks.
Our last day there we were to go to LasTorres and stay in the Refugio there but there was a fire started by an Isreali that was fanned by the high winds and destroyed 1100 ha of the park so when we came out - there were firefighters everywhere and the park proper was closed. We were the last people to be evacuated from the park - they knew we were 9 people and a guide and that we were the last. A reason to return another time..........
Patagonia is a geographic region that encompasses the southernmost part of South America . It is located in Argentina and Chile , and includes the section of the southern Andes , towards the southwest to the Pacific Ocean. To the west, includes the territory of Valdivia , through the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego - drawn together by the Andes and the most amazing mountain scenery - suited to climbers, walkers and cyclists alike.
We started in El Chalten - the home of the mountain climbers and walkers. We started our first day by a walk to Mt Fitzroy base - a long 6hr walk - pretty much uphill for half the time but the view at the top was spectacular - you can't imagine how the mountaineers climb it - it's so steep in parts.
The food here is pretty good so we went to a Parrilla restaurant where they have all sorts of Barbequed Meats cooked to perfection and delicious vegies and salads.......a great reward after some difficult climbing days.
From here we went to Calafate just prior to Christmas and went to see the Perito Moreno Glacier - the amazing site you see when a glacier is depicted eg on the front of the Lonely Planet Guide to Argentina - the set up there is terrific - we firstly did the boat trip that takes you to see the glacier - 60metres high - from it's base - we could hear cracking sounds and saw some calving (where the ice breaks away from the glacier and falls into the water - creating waves and really quite a loud noise). Then we went to the huge boardwalk which takes you from one end of the glacier to the other - amazing engineering - it weaves around the outskirts of the Glacier so you get to see it from all positions.
Porters carried tents and food and a few of our things into park - we were going camping for 4 days in the park. Walk in 4 hrs up hill difficult - great to reach out campsite Zapata. From here we walked to see Ichthyosaur fossil by the river in a huge rock - in 2 parts, the another day to Condor Ledge - very difficult climb up a waterfall where I was hanging on by my fingertips and toe tips at times and at others just launching myself at a rock in the hope of catching it.......my fear factor has gone but it was difficult at times.....
Views of the Torres del Paine with Paine massif, which is an eastern spur of the Andes located on the east side of the Grey Glacier, rising dramatically above the Patagonian steppe.(from Wikipaedia) were amazing.
Pato, our cook made great meals when we returned to camp after our day long treks.
Our last day there we were to go to LasTorres and stay in the Refugio there but there was a fire started by an Isreali that was fanned by the high winds and destroyed 1100 ha of the park so when we came out - there were firefighters everywhere and the park proper was closed. We were the last people to be evacuated from the park - they knew we were 9 people and a guide and that we were the last. A reason to return another time..........
