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Published: December 27th 2009
Our first view of Perito Moreno
Are we really going hiking on that?Chuck is napping so I'm solo for this entry! The glacier itself and the sun and clouds on the amazing array of blues and greys produced by the ice meant that Chuck took over 400 photos that day. It was a "gap day" between our adventure in Torres del Paine and our Christmas week in the Falkland Islands, but it ended up being one of our most exhilirating days! We felt like we were coming home when we arrived back in El Calafate, with the familiar short-legged stray dogs and the amazingly helpful hostelkeepers at Che Lagarto. The tour bus picked us up at 7am and took us to nearby Los Glaciares National park. We did the walkway tour of the glacier, thinking "are we really going hiking on that vast, intimidating expanse of ice?" We then boated over to the glacier and were fitted for crampons (big heavy iron ones unlike the lightweight flexible ones our guides wore! Apparently ours were made by a local metalworker). We hiked for about an hour up to an area that was flat enough to walk on and away we went! We were happy to see that the guides were taking us on a
Ice as far as the eye can see
In the distance are the Andes and Chile more strenuous route than we had initially pictured. We were going up and down valleys, across crevasses and through fast-flowing streams carved out of the ice. We got lost at one point and it took the guides about 15 minutes of climbing up the nearby peaks of ice to determine the best route to the center where we were to eat our packed lunch. We were on the glacier for about 3 hours and it still stretched on before us. It takes about 4 days to walk to the end, which takes you over the Andes into Chile. As an added final touch, we were served whisky chilled with glacier ice on the boat back! A great way to get up close and personal to the daunting glacier, and Chuck's appetite is now whetted for ice climbing back home (GREAT!) That night we took the 3am bus to Rio Gallegos where we had a 5-hour stopover (enough time to have a cafe con leche and explore the colourful little town which is capital of Santa Cruz province) before our bus to Punta Arenas in Chile. We had an amazing seafood dinner and a bottle (or two) of wine before flying
Glacier rupture
Several years ago the glacier "ruptured" at this ice bridge. We weren't so lucky (or unlucky) to see something like that! to Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falkland Islands on December 19th. Coming soon to Chuck and Rach's Excellent Adventure.....penguins!!!
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ML
non-member comment
Wow
Third time I am trying to send so will do quickly. Amazing scenery. Weather just like here. Congratulations! I know you will be well suited and happy. Take care and love aunt Lee