CHILE, Torres del Paine

December 18, 2010

I am getting very excited about hiking for 7 days through Torres del Paine. This is the major reason I came to South America. Will be staying in very expensive Refugios (shelters but essentially a hostel), at least I think. It costs around $50 a night for a bed in an 8 bed dorm without sheets or blankets. (that is extra $12 a night) So I will be renting a sleeping bag for my bed at $3 a night. Food is also about $20 a meal at the refugios so I will carry in as much food as possible. (spaghetti, bread, ham and wine) All the necessities. lol   I have heard that the Circuit which involves camping and more days has better views but my camping skills are poor and therefore will still hope for some incredible scenery. Will not have Internet during the trekking but will be back at Esmeralda Hostel on Christmas Eve.

Arrived at hostel and found out there is no kitchen access so all of the spaghetti sauce and noodles in my backpack are useless. Have enough sandwich meat and bread for 2 days and then will start having to buy lunch ($14) and dinner ($17). A diet coke is $3 and Snickers is $4. Luckily I brought cookies and cake which I will eat for breakfast each day. Probably would have been cheaper camping but I am not the greatest outdoorsman. lol

CHILE, Puerto Nates, Patagonia

December 17, 2010

Just arrived in Puerto Natales, Chile which is the staging point for hiking the W Circuit in Torres del Paiine whiich is supposed to be the most beautiful hiking in Patagonia. I am staying at Hostel Esmeralda which is a family run hostel which is worn but well kept and the least expensive in the area. I leave tomorrow for 6 nights and 7 days in Torres del Paine. The hostels are so expensive in the national park, $50 for a bed in an 8 bed dorm without sheets and blanket. (That is an extra $12 a night) I have opted to rent a sleeping bag for my dorm bed at $3 a day. I am also carrying in my food, spaghetti, bread and wine. All the essentials. Will not have internet so will post again when I return on December 24th. I asked about getting food on my return for Christmas but was advised that I will be eating with Crisobal and his family for Christmas. You meet great people when traveling who always make you feel at home. Having fun but missing the family. Love to all.

ARGENTINA, Perito Moreno Glacier

Thursday   12/16/10   (day 32)

It was billed as one of the most beautiful and "must see" things to do in South America.  Today I visited the glacier and it lived up to its reputation. I joined a tour which took us the 50 miles to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. We left at 8:30 am and spent almost 4 hours viewing the glacier including a boat trip which took us right up next to the glacier. Everyone waited with anticipation hoping that there would be huge hunks of the glacier falling into the water but not this trip. Lots of rumbles however. The glacier is enormous. The glacier is as big as the entire city of Buenos Aires. The glacier is over 200 feet tall, 18 miles long and 3 miles wide.

ARGENTINA, El Chalten to El Calafate

Wednesday   December 15, 2010    (Day 31)

I caught the 7:30 am bus to El Calafate, starting point for most tours to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. I found my hostel after walking around lost for about 30 minutes. The hostel is a little pricey ($15) for 4 bed dorm but the beds are NOT bunk beds and there is a private bathroom and TV in the room. Bought my tour ticket to see the glacier tomorrow. Hoping for same good weather as we are having today. Still can not get over the wind in Patagonia. There is ALWAYS a constant 50-60 mph wind with some gust actually knocking you down. It never stops. It also seems to come from every angle as I walked around the four sides of the hostel and the wind is just as bad on each side. Strange.

ARGENTINA, El Chalten, Hike to Fitz Roy

I left at 9 am for the 8 hr hike to and back to the Fitz Roy lookout. The trek there was beautiful and mostly flat until the last hour which is straight up. But it was all worthwhile as you have the best view of Fitz Roy and the glacier lake at its foot. The trek back, however, was a different story. The 4 hr hike back to the hostel turned into 7 hours as I took the wrong trail and saw an entire part of the country that I was not expecting. Well marked trail, just the wrong one. lol

DECEMBER 13, 2010

ARGENTINA, Bariloche

Wednesday   December 8, 2010

After a sixteen hour bus ride, I finally made it to Bariloche. There is a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. Starting to really get a feel for Patagonia. I plan on leaving Friday for a 28 hour bus ride to El Chalten where the scenery and trekking are supposed to be spectacular.