Rio Gallegos itself is not very interesting but a good start to go south. So we took a bus to Punta Arenas which was only few hours away. From there it was easy to cross over to Tierra del Fuego and some islands to see some sea lions and penguins, my new favourite friends! They are so cute!And then Jay and me went to Puerto Natales to prepare for our big trekking trip in Torres del Paine. First we planned on staying in Refugios and take it as an easy walk but after meeting other travellers we somehow let them convince us to camp. So we bought food for five days, rented camping gear and packed our bags. Oh man 14 or 16kg must have been in my bag. I was excited but as well already regretting the camping decision a little bit but there was no way back, cause the bus was booked and without reservations no Refugios would have space.
And then we went into the park and started our tour into an amazing scenery.After one hour of hiking I hated my backpack and wished I had only a day pack there. Haha. But the landscape and the views would just make up for it. After a few hours we got to a glacier that melted into a lake and the view was just breathtaking. It was so worth it even this area of the park is burned down.
Later the first day it rained while putting up our tent and everything got wet but that couldn't bother us. We had a hot noodle soup and warmed up in our sleeping bags and got ready for the next day.
The second day was the longest and hardest for me. It was about 8h of hiking with the heavy bag on to the next campsite where we had mashed noodles and fell asleep already eight in the evening. But then the third day was a hike into the french valley with only water and your camera. We left the tent and our heavy bags behind cause we would return to that place later again. Our shoulders were just so happy that day! The views and the landscape in that valley were just incredible. I loved it there and the sun was putting all the colours into the right light. Stunningly beautiful!
The fourth day was as well a wonderful sunny day and led us to the final valley with the Torres towers.Again beautiful scenery and a cute little campsite at the end of the trail.
Cause it was so sunny we were convinced it will stay like that but over night the fog and clouds came in. So for my birthday we got up early in the morning to hike up the last hill to see the sunrise over the towers but it turned out to be a little disappointment. We could still see the amazing three towers over the turquoise glacier lake but the glowing from the sun wasn't there. It was a big birthday present and when we got back that day to Puerto Natales we had a great birthday party with all my new hiking friends. In the end it was an awesome day for me!
And I was so proud I made it through the five days with this heavy bag on my back.
Whoever likes hiking and trekking, the Torres del Paine is a must do when you are in Patagonia. Incredible place so deep in the south of America!
And we did not have enough from mountains and glaciers, so we travelled north further into Patagonia and back into Argentina.
