Greys glacier (Chile)- this is where i abondoned Kara
Frances ValleyKaras solo hike
Main st in Calafate (Argentina), really not much to look at but if you look carefully you can seethe price-tag hanging off of everything (haha)
Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia (Argentina)
PS- None of these photos are ours, internet is expensive here so its faster to download photos. But we have some awesome pictures of Patagonia (Chile side) and Patagonia (Argentina side), especially of falling glaciers!
So Kara and I made it down to Puerto Natales/Patagonia on Saturday the 14th. Here is a little background info: For those that are not familiar with Patagonia, it is a region that spreads throughout the southern area of Argentina and Chile. Patagonia comes from the word ´patagon´ used by Magallen which he used to describe the natives whom he thought were giants (spaniards at the time were small (5ft +)and the natives where about 6ft).
Anyways, we arrived in Puerto Natales , the gateway to Torres del Paine on Saturday. We spent Sunday gearing up for our trip gathering what tasty light food we could find. After supplying ourselves with enough oatmeal to make me cry and kara druel (i dislike kara´s oatmeal) we grabbed some pasta and peanut butter and called it good. The bus we took to Torres Del Paine National Park left at 730am and took us 2 1/2 hrs North. There are a number of routes you can hike, but the two most common are called the ´W´(5 days) or the Circuit(9 days). Because of weather conditions it was heavily advised to do the ´W¨ which kept you on the south side of the mountains because the north side was washed out due to rain. So, it made the choice easy.
Day 1- In an informative meeting held by a local hostel on Sunday, we leanred about an extra day that we could add on by walking into the park . It was a 10 mile hike to our first camp site but it was well worth it. We got to see the all three towers from a distance even though the peaks were being stuborn and hiding behind clouds. The walk in was fairly easy despite the gal force wind blowing at us. At times i´d look back and see kara leaning as far forwards as possible so not to be blown away. After sunshine, rain, and wind, we arrived at the campsite and quickly set up our tent when the rain paused. We were really lucky to have chosen that night to stay at that particular camp ground because a film festival happened to be presenting extreme sports films that night, which was fun to watch.
Day 2- We packed up our tent, made our outmeal that Galen cant get enough of, and headed toward Grey´s Glacier, the first part of the three part ¨w¨ hike. During the hike, Galen tweaked his knee. After a couple of hours, we got to the camp ground and were relieved to find that the camp ground was on the glacier lake where a boat comes a couple of times a day. Galen reluctantly got on the boat and headed back to Puerto Natales. As he prepared to board the boat, I saw a couple who we had met at the school in Santiago. They were on the same flight as us and we spent dinner together for our first night in Natalas. So I hiked to the look out point with them to see Greys Glacier, which was surreal. We then hiked back down to the camp grounds we were at the night before.
Day 3- I woke up early the next morning to give myself plenty of time to hike up frances valley and get back to catch the boat back to the bus. As I waited for the kitchen (a round building with a few tables, chairs and a sink) to open I saw the most beautiful sunrise over these unbelievable mountains. After making my oatmeal, I began my trek. I was soo appreciative of the sunny, warm day. After hiking and camping in the rain, you have a new appreciation for the sun. I made it to the top, snapped a few pictures of the magestical mountains, made a quick sandwhich and headed back down. On my way down, I bumped into the same couple as I hiked with yesterday and they decided to turn around and hike down with me. Once I reached the bottom, there was a huge line waiting for the boat that brings you back the bus. I was only a few people away from getting on and had to wait for the boat to make a second trip. I finally made it back to Puerto Natalas around 10:30 and was so relieved to see Galen waiting on the sidewalk...
We woke up in a mad rush (2-21, Saturday) this morning, for we had slept through our alarms and had to make a mad dash for the bus station. Today is our travel day from Puerto Natales, Chile to Calefate, Argentina. It was crazy that after 2hrs of driving the landscape totally changed, despite the close proximity. Argentina was small rolling hills as far as the eye cold see covered with a tanish/gold grass. We spent this 5hr trip in the back of the bus next to constantly occupied toilets ( it was GREAT!). Once we arrived in Calefate and got situated we had the chance to take a walk. The town is located next to a beautiful giant glacier lake, which the wind rips across. The main attraction here is the Perito Moreno Glacier,
The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that are
not retreating. The terminus of the Perito Moreno Glacier is 5 kilometres (3 mi)
wide, with an average height of 60 m (200 ft) above the surface
of the water, with a total ice depth of 170 metres (558 ft).
It advances at a speed of up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) per day
(around 700 metres (2,300 ft) per year), although it loses mass
at approximately the same rate, meaning that aside from small
variations, its terminus has not advanced or receded in the past
90 years. At its deepest part, the glacier has a depth of
approximately 700 metres (2,300 ft).
It costs a fortune to see, so Kara and i rented a old piece of junk and drove up at 6am before the park opened so we would escape the overly priced entry fee. It was AMAZING, the photos speak for themselves, and even they dont do justice. The sounds of millions of tons of ice crumbling shifting under preasure is indescrible. We saw some great pieces of ice falling from the top of the 50 meter (150ft) glacier and becoming icebergs.
Were getting a bus tomorrow morning to El Chalten, another national park in Patagonia on the Argentinian side. Well we have written a novel for this blog... we heard from a lot of you guys, which was greatly appreciated along with the pictures. Keep them coming!
