Extreme Patagonia Adventure

Janiary 9 to January 24, 2009

Day 1&2 - Calafate, Argentine

Bus ride to Parque National de los Glaciers and hike to camp site at the base if Fitz Roy. Excellent views! We were also blessed with exceptional weather and had clear skies and warm breezes. Not the cold uninviting Patagonia weather we had expected.

Day 3 - Hike to Lago de los Tres and Fitz Roy viewpoint

Excellent hike, steep climb but rewarding finish. Check out the pics, the viewpoint is at the base of the famous mountain climbing peaks that tower above 2 brilliant blue glacier water lagoons. We were able to spend at least 1 hour at the view point, taking in sun and a packed lunch.

Day 4 - 5 am wake up call

Greg and I dragged ourselves out of our tent with Ale and Rocco to check out the full moon and sunrise. It was magnificent! I am so thankful for the time to be able to watch the sunrise, bathe in the light of the moon and share it all with Greg.

After breakfast we took off on a relaxing hike, across marshes and thick forests, to our next campsite. After game of wherewolf and some mate we wandering on a few more walks and then came back for dinner....lentils.

Day 5 - Glacier Hike and hike back to town of Chalten

9 am start, I am still half asleep when I find myself hooked to a line and before I can comprehend, I am flying acorss a river.

It took about an hour to cmilb up and over what looked like should have taken 15 minutes to get to. As we got closer to the Great Glacier, it began to take true form, in both color and size. At the edge, we stapped 10 metal spikes to each foot and began walking.

I had assumed we would be walking on a flat piece of blue ise, but the glacier is in fat full of peaks and crevises, making it obvious why we needed spikes on our feet.

Walking on brilliant blue glass, stepping over crack, sinkholes and ridges.....not an everyday hike. We arrived to a large hole in the ice that sloped down to a river runniung through and under the glacier. It was here the guides stopped to set up a rappel down. The guides ecured the hook and we lowered ourselves down 1 by 1 into the crevice where we ate lunch and practiced our ice climbing.

The walk back was long and tiring as we walked from sun to rain to snow to wind. Back up and over the mountainside, over the rushing river and into camp. No rest here, as we stll had a 3 hour walk ahead of us back into town where we were due for a shower and dinner.

It was the best night of sleep I had had in the trip thusfar (despite the cold shower).

Day 6 - Back to El Calafate

Day 7 - Perito Moreno Glacier

Day 8 - Torres del Paine, hike to Mirador de los Condores

Day 9 - Hike to Mirador de las Torres

Day 10 - Lago Pehoe boat ride to French Valley, Torres del Paine, Chile
Hike to Italian Camp (where I fell in a river) Rain, cold and wind....la miseria!

Day 11 - Hike to Grey Glacier and bus to Puerto Natales

Day 12 - Puerto Natales to Estancia de Las Mujeres. Beautiful sheep ranch where we were treated to the best lamb roast EVER.

Day 13 - Estancia de las Hijas. Sheep Shearing Show! Then bus down to Tierra del Fuego, where we crossed the Straights of Magellenes. We arrived to a Mountain Refuge in time for lunch and an afternoon hike. Later that night we went hunting for beavers!

Day 14 - Bus to Ushuaia. Hike in National Park and afternoon boat ride in the famous Beagle Channel.

Day 15 - Penguins!