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Published: December 24th 2007
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Glacier view 1
Perito Moreno Glacier from viewing balconies Today was even cooler than yesterday. We set off for the mini-trek in a large tour bus, and headed towards the Perito Moreno Glacier. We had read that this was the crown jewel of the National Glacier Park, but it was hard to believe it could be more spectacular than the glaciers we saw on our boat trip. But it was - more beautiful and just more impressive all the way around. First we got out where all the viewing balconies are on the shore of the lake, where you can see one side of the glacier from a safe distance. What views! We had a couple hours to walk around, view from many angles, eat lunch. Each day as we have eaten lunch sitting in front of glaciers, we both really took this in. I said this sure beats the SunTrust Plaza food court and I think that is the understatement of the year. Then we got back on the bus that took us down to a boat on the lake. A quick ride across the lake took us to the other side of the Perito Moreno Glacier. This is the less-viewed side and only accessible by boat. Again, I
have to say wow! We docked on a rocky beach, walked through a forest, and then got our trekking spiky shoes, and we were off. Our two guides were great, both spoke English well (they split us up into 2 groups - Spanish speaking and English speaking). They gave us a quick lesson on how to walk on ice and not get our feet tangled up in ourselves. And away we went onto the glacier. This was one of the most unique and impactful things I’ve ever done. To actually climb up the ice of the glacier that we had just seen from afar looking so huge and amazing is hard to describe with words. Pools of gorgeous blue water, lifts made from separating chunks of ice that are hollow beneath, deep crevices in the ice that you could see way, way down and didn’t want to fall in, the specks of sand that have blown over from the beach and forest area, the sounds of cracking ice and running water, I could go on and on. One guy ahead of us in our trekking line stepped right into what looked like ice but was actually water - his leg
Glacier view 2
view from the other side - from the boat went in above the knee. He said “so cold!” and once we knew he was alright, we just thanked our lucky stars it hadn’t been one of us that had to walk with icy pant leg and shoe for the remainder of the day! At the end of the trek, we came over this ice hill to find a table with glasses on it - they served us scotch on glacier rocks - literally chunked the ice for our drinks out of the glacier. It was warming and fun to share that moment with the guides and the others from the tour. And I hate scotch. But I drank it anyway. And it was the best scotch I’ve ever had!
We had all been watching the glacier from the beach, trying to see hunks fall off into the water below. You can hear it when this happens and sometimes you can see it, sometimes not. We had seen several chunks of ice fall on each of the glaciers we visited, and it was a rush each time, watching this living, breathing, moving glacier at work. We’re all on the boat headed back after a long day. Dave pointed out to
Glacier view 3
PM Glacier, rocks, and forest me this one column of ice and said that it would have to fall soon. We both agreed and were looking at it when literally it started to fall, and then the larger pieces around it started to fall, and the biggest chunk I’ve ever seen of ice came tumbling down and hit the water with an immense splash, and kept coming. Chunks of snow and ice explode off the side, and it produced this monster wave. The whole boat was cheering, screaming, clapping. And then our driver realized if we didn’t turn the boat and get outta there, we’d be toppled over - no kidding. So we hauled out of there as we spectators watched the chunk of ice roll around in the water. I don’t think I’ve probably done justice with my words to this amazing moment, but hopefully some of the pictures will give you a sense. I don’t have any shots of the ice actually falling (camera was zipped up in the bad with my thinking I was done with photos!), but we got it out as fast as we could and I think captured the crash to the water and the wave. What a great
mini trekking
another group of trekkers ahead of us Day 2 of vacation!!!! --Amanda
Hola, I just wanted to add one thing, this was like seeing the Grand Canyon or the pyramids in Egypt for the first time. Just amazing! One shout-out to Alfredo and Valeria at www.discoverba.com. They were a huge help in setting everything up from tours to car transfers to advice - we highly recommend them!
--Dave
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Gary Dresser
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Yeah...but the best part was.....
So was Dave more excited about the Glaciers or the Bears' kicking Green Bay's butt?