Patagonia in Panorama

Las Torres del Paine

Monte Almirante Nieto

Crossing to Cuernos

Patagonian sky over Lago Nordernskjold

Lago Nordernskjold, Paine Grande and Los Cuernos

Valle Frances and Lago Nordernskjold

Paine Grande and Valle Frances

Valle Frances

Valle Frances

Valle Frances

Glacier Grey

Torres del Paine National Park: Day 6

Time to head out of the park after six excellent days of hiking covering over 50 miles of some of the most beautiful alpine terrain the world has to offer. 

Catamaran out of the park. 

Good bye Torres. 

Torres del Paine National Park: Day 5

The final leg of the the 'W' brought us up close to Glacier Grey, out of the tent and into the swanky confines (at least they seemed pretty posh after four nights in the tent) of Refugio Grey. These lodges dot the park and make it possible to do the entire 'W' without the need to camp, cook or use any Boy Scout training whatsoever. When Marta was booking, they said their camping was full (it wasn't) so we elected to stay in the Refugio. Great choice. It was a nice end to the circuit - and they accept Visa making a more proper celebration with a bottle of wine a reality.

Glacier Grey

This beats the tent. 

This must have been the coldest, windiest, craziest Patagonia pursuit we saw. No thank you. 

It seemingly goes on forever. 

Torres del Paine National Park: Day 4

The most spectacular part of the 'W' has to be the Valle Frances. After waking from a restless night in the wind we headed to Campo Italiano, set up camp and then headed up the valley. As you can see, the bright blue sky continued for a second consecutive day... As did the gale-force winds. I've never experienced anything like it. Then again, I've never had the misfortune of being caught in the middle of a tornado or hurricane.

Heading into Valle Frances with Paine Grande behind. 

Paine Grande's glacial field. 

East wall of Valle Frances

Made it to the top of Valle Frances

About 1/3 of the mountains visible in Valle Frances

Paine Grande peak

Torres Del Paine National Park: Day 3

After two nights camping below the Torres, it was time to head west to the 'middle of the 'W' and Los Cuernos camp. It was a rather flat hike of 11 km on an absolutely pristine bluebird day. Though that would soon change. After midnight, the weather succumb to the mountain gods and the infamous Paine winds attacked our mountainside camp for the remainder of the night. 

Leaving our first camp after two nights and heading towards Los Cuernos and the middle of the 'W'

Looking over Lago Nordernskjold - one of the largest glacial lakes in the park. 

Los Cuernos

First glimpse of Paine Grande (on right) - the highest peak in the park. 

River leading to Los Cuernos camp. 

Torres del Paine National Park: Day 2

Probably one of the more strenuous days on the 'W' circuit, we climbed the Ascencio Valley to reach the base of the park's namesakes. Though shrouded in clouds the towers still managed to impress.

Las Torres

Marta cruising down after visiting Las Torres. 

Torres del Paine National Park: Day 1

A two hour bus ride from Puerto Natales, Chile leads to the park entrance. After a 7 km hike we set up camp. Nice camp site - picnic tables, hot showers and great views.

Hike into camp. 

Dinner time. 

City Center and La Bombonera

Recoleta

Cemetario Recoleta

Evita's Family Plot

Buenos Aires

Hmm... Not sure if this is going to work from the iPad, but here goes.

We will be in Argentina for two weeks. Plan is for two day in Buenos Aires (check) and the rest in Patagonia. So far here are the highlights:

- For the second time in three months I have been the 'doc on board.' Marta helped this time, however reluctantly. (She had just popped her Ambien and was ready for bedtime in economy class.) It was a case of syncope vs therapeutic misadventure (with Ambien ironically) in an old lady up in first class. For added degree of difficulty, she happened to be Spanish-speaking only. She checked out okay. We were rewarded with free bottles of water. Awesome.

- Yesterday we toured the most popular attraction in all of Buenos Aires - a cemetery. Yep. Recoleta. It is several city blocks of the who's who of dead Argentinians including Evita (of 'Don't Cry for me Argentina' fame). Lovely really.

- It is summer time here in the city. Hot hot hot. Best part however is that it stays light until 8 or 9pm. Man I miss that in the winter.

-Second best part of summer in Buenos Aires: Realization that Argentinians are a really attractive group of people.

- Today we elected to take the Subte (subway) to the city center and go on foot through apparently the entire rest of the city of 16 million people. What I'm trying to say is I have shin splints. Anyhow, Marta thinks the subway reminded her most of the NYC subway and not so much of the DC or ATL mass transit systems. (I have no idea what she means by this.)

- City center was pretty standard. Walk to the 'Old District' was also okay. But the real highlight was 'La Bombonera.' Home to Boca Juniors football club, it is one of the stadiums of world football. It seems like an intimidating and yet exhilarating venue to take in a match. Last match day in the Aperatura is this weekend and we unfortunately won't be in town.


Pictures will have to be posted separately. This thing isn't working.