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Published: February 22nd 2012
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Laguna Torres
Just before the blizzard started....... So where to next????
Short bus ride up the road from El Calafate and we were in the hiking capital of Patagonia.....El Chalten.
Framed by 2 huge mountains Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy both over 3000 metres tall, its Argentina's Torres Del Paine equivalent.
Mountain climbers flock here and word was, and sighting proved, that famous Austrian climbers were in town, waiting for the winds to drop and the weather to improve in order to attempt the infamous Cerro Fitz Roy, who takes no prisoners- many who try don't make it down......
The thing we were most looking forward to...... Its all free!!
Every other park we've been into we've had to pay 100 Pesos per day EACH!!! that's £17!!!!
What was really lovely as well was before the bus dropped you off, they took you to El Chalten's tourist information office, where the rangers did a talk on the park, each trek in detail, what you could do, what to look out for, basic rules, gave you a map..... It was so refreshing, usually you have to waste half a day finding that info out for yourselves......
There's 3 main days worth
Laguna Torres
No way we were seeing the top of Cerro Torre today..... of hiking and we conquered them all!
Pictures will so paint a thousand words on these days in this amazing destination venue, so that's just what I'll do, post loadsa pics rather than waffle on.....well maybe i'll waffle on a bit!!
One thing I will say is that a 5 mile run everyday and 6 years of hardcore exercising do not prepare you for 23 kilometre mountain treks...... The stair master has nothing on this, especially the 60 minute scramble at the end of the Fitz Roy trek.... Kate Mileswka how the hell did you cope with Kilamanjaro??. You and Brett have fitness Halos in my book..... Not to mention the award you deserve for braving 'the toilets', which I unfortunately have to say I've 'experienced' now- begrudgingly.........
Again super hostel, great crowd.... Mostly here on short sabbaticals, except for Petra who's on here 3rd year travelling!! She will really be able to say she's experienced living abroad.....
This has by far been our fave destination and fave hostel..... Did our bit and sampled the gorgeous Argentinean vino blanco for you Zoe as requested.... Oh it was hard going doing 1 bottle a night lol!! Thoroughly
Cool clouds!
Some smart arse will know the proper name for them.... Please share..... deserved though .... We like to think of it as the après ski equivalent for Trekkers.......
Brief low down.....
Day 1.... Don't ask me how but managed to come a cropper walking from the bus station to our hostel....... Not the best when you have 20kg on your back and a day pack on hour front....but at least the latter cushioned my fall a bit. Lol!!!.....Tripped over a metal door grate and have 2 scabby bruised knees to show for it, and a bit of whip lash but think that was from Jon pulling me up.......
Hostel is like a little ski chalet, just perfect and feels really cozy!!The host Sebastian and the great tunes of Iron Maiden that greeted us, certainly gave us a good feeling about these next 3 days.....
Trekked to Laguna Torres..... Steep at the start and scramble at the end, up and down in the middle..... Great views all the way, and another one of those days where you had your sun cream on and 4 layers including your water proof and needed them all at some point.....Snowing at the glacier and howling winds at the path at the end strong
Pretty spot
Chorrillo del Salto, Cascada en El Chalten enough to blow you back to El Calafate......Good 8 hours out trekking followed by some seriously tasty beef stroganoff and a lovely bottle of vino blanco to top off a valentines day we'll always remember....
Day 2..... And a thoroughly deserved lie in....Well it was after we'd all fallen back to sleep after I woke everyone up with my alarm clock going off
at 5.50am..... Whoops .... Only made worse by the fact it was locked in my bag in my locker at the other side of the room..... Oh and 2 of our dorm buddies had only arrived in
at 2 am..... Guess who wasn't popular.......Anyway finally got up and mobile after a lazy morning and did all the shorter trails, including the waterfalls and the locals trek up the side of the falls to the top of it where there are some lovely pools and another fall.... Just lovely, no one there, you feel ontop of the world.......Followed by the condor view point up by the information centre.... Spaghetti Bol and some great conversation all washed down with the local delicacy ......
Day 3 - the big one......And the weather came out to play big style..... Strong winds but
On top of the world.....
Where only the locals know...... you guessed it blue sky so we only had to have breakfast and we could see the 2 local treasures Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy, majestic in all their glory and the view only got better the higher and higher we climbed...... Over 1100 metres and 4 hours later we had made the 1 hour quad pounding scramble to the end and we sat behind a rock shielding ourselves from the screaming winds.....Thankfully the elements took pity on us and the wind dropped..... 1.5 hours we spent up there just being...... Enjoying the glacier, Fitz Roy, Poincenot, the waterfall and their 2 glacial lakes one way and 3 lakes visible in the other direction, even the huge lake that stretches as far as El Calafate..... This was a perfect day!
With our water bottles freshly filled from the glacier lake we started our decent at around
4pm and took the extra time to go back the other way by one of the lakes visible from our view point...... Chilled on the beach and caught a few rays..... And did likewise when we got back to the hostel..... A beer and a beautiful view..... What more can we ask
for....
A very predictable evening of the usual suspects, great company, great music, good grub and a bottle well earned to wash it down!!
Hopefully the last we'll need of our long walking pants and waterproofs as we hit the road tomorrow on our 20 hour bus ride up the Atlantic Coast to Peurto Madryn, warmer weather, penguins and fingers crossed ORCAS!!!!!!
Please visit this wonderful place and stay in Aglen Aike..... Sebastian runs the best show ever!
Enjoy the pics
Lots of Love
Michelle and Jon x x x
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