We’ve just returned from a great 5 days in Torres del Paine National Park:
Day 1 saw blizzards, hail and force 12 gales (it felt like force 12 anyhow…. and we both almost got blown over despite large rucksacks) en route to Glaciar Grey, which made it worth the 4 hour hike from the ferry drop off.
Day 2 was better – no wind, and we saw our first condors as we backtracked along the shore of Lago Grey to Lago Pehoe and skirted the north shore of Lake Skotendbild (?) under the vast bulk of Los Cuernos. Stayed 2 great nights in Refugio Los Cuernos, which meant that on day 3 we could walk up the stunning Val de Frances under clear blue skies, getting amazing 360 degree views out over the lakes, of Los Cuernos (from the other side) and the avalanches coming from glaciar Frances. Amazing.
Day 4 we hiked onwards in light drizzle to refugio Chileno, which lies un the valley leading up to Los Torres, and as we whiled away the afternoon under grey skies, the clouds lifted enough for us to see them… and today (day 5) we woke to clear blue skies again and marched off double quick along the 2 hour return path to Los Torres… making it in under 3, including the vertiginous bouldering section to reach the lake at the base fo the Torres. Lovely.
We’re now clean and fresh and will be meeting up with Nodoka and Choko and Simon for pisco sours at El Living in the not too distant future! And do you know what…. Puerto Natales isn’t too bad in the sunshine…..
Off down to Punta Arenas tomorrow, hopefully to see the penguin colony on Isla Magallena before flying back to Santiago.