We returned almost a month ago and yes, it was trip of a lifetime! 

Couldn't have gone better..great itinerary, great weather, great travel companions and a GREAT adventure!!!!

Hoping Patty will put together the trip report.  In the meantime here are links to several photo albums

1.  Trip to Seno Otway Penguin Colony

2.  The W trek

3.  Glacier Moreno and in Chalten, Argentina (Mt Fitz Roy)

Patagonia-Adventure of a lifetime!

We're going to Patagonia!

As Patty would say, mucho penguinos!  (we are hoping to see them in Punta Arenas, Chile)

So our travels begin with a flight from Rochester, NY to Atlanta and then an overnight flight to Santiago, Chile.  We hope to sneak in some wine tasting and a bit of the city before departing the next morning for Punta Arenas (see map above), the World's second southern-most city!  We plan to head to Seno Otway Penguin Colony in hopes of seeing some penguinos...

...and hop on a bus for 4 hours to Puerto Natales (PN) (see map above),  We will call PN home for two days as we prepare for our trek. Check here for the current weather in Patagonia.

We are doing the W trek (west to east/left to right on map below) in the Torres del Paine National Park.

Word is that trekkers should go to the free 3:00 info session a Erratic Rock Hostel (also where we will be staying for two nights before and one night after our trek) to get tips on doing the trek.  Afterwards, we will buy our last minute supplies in PN, do a final pack, secure our belongings that will stay behind and enjoy a beverage and a good night's sleep!

Day One                                                                               

Travel into park by bus from PN

Catamaran across Lake Pehoe                                                                       

Trek up the "left side" of the W to Refugio Grey, next to Glacier Grey

·         11km, 6mls, 3.5+ hours

·         Refugio Grey (camp on own if nice)

Satellite view of Glacier Grey (which is top left in map above)

Day Two                                                                              

Trek Glacier Grey to Campamento Italiano (back down the "left side" of the W and to the bottom of the "middle" of the W.)

·         18.5km, 12mls, 5.5+ hours

·         Camping on own

Day Three                                                                              

Trek through French Valley- leave camp set up and take day packs up and back the "middle" of the W (out and back, from/to Campamento Italiano)

·         15km, 10mls, 6+ hours

·         Camping on own

                                        Sleep among the stars

Day Four                                                                     

Trek Campamento Italiano to Refugio Los Cuernos (along right of "middle" of the W, bottom edge)

·         5.5km, 3mls, 2.5+ hours

·         Refugio Los Cuernos

Day Five                                                                               

2/19

Trek Refugio Los Cuernos to Campamento Torres (along remaining right of "middle" of the W and then up the "right" side of the W)

·         16km, 10mls, 7.5+ hours

      Camping on own  

                                                                             

Day Six

Trek Campamento Torres to Mirador Torres (base of towers) out and back before dawn (leave packs at camp) and then out of park (back down "right" side of W) and bus back to PN

·         2 hrs up (before dawn) and back, pick up packs and then hike out to shuttle to bus

·         9km, 5mls, 5.5+ hours

We will return to Erratic Rock for the night and can only imagine how much we will appreciate a hot shower, clean clothes, "gourmet" meal and wine!

The following day we will take a 5 hour bus trip north, across the border to Argentina to El Calafate. One thing not to miss here is the Moreno Glacier, as it is one of the only three glaciers in Patagonia that is actually advancing. It  is 5 kilometres (3 mi) wide, with an average height of 74 m (240 ft) above the surface of the water of Lake Argentino.

After spending a night in El Calafate, we will board yet another bus for 4 hours to El Chalten, known as one of the premier destinations for trekkers in Patagnonia.  It is located within Parque Nacional Los Glaciares,
at the base of Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy (11,000+ ft) mountains.  The latter is the inspiration for the logo on gear made by Patagonia and still revered as one of the most technically challenging mountains in the World to climb (which we will not be doing)!

We will spend two days in El Chalten doing day hikes and perhaps some horseback riding in the park before returning to El Calafate for the final leg of our adventure.  We will say good by to Patagonia and fly to Buenos Aires for three days.

Besides taking in some tango, enjoying Argentina wine and food (bife de chorizo), crossing the Rio de la Plata to spend some time in Uruguay (eat some chivoto and get another passport stamp), we are going to take a wait and see approach to BA.

I await with anticipation what this three week adventure of a lifetime holds and know as wonderful as it will be, I will be eager to return to my family, friends and the comforts of home.  Life is good and I know how truly fortunate I am to be able to have such an adventure!

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The preparation...

Patty and I have planned this trip ourselves, despite reading multiple times online it was difficult to do because of outdated websites, etc. Albeit it has taken many, many hours...but to me, it's all part of the adventure and in the process I have learned a tremendous amount.  After the trip I will post a trip report and include the most helpful websites and resources we used, so that it may benefit anyone else eager to plan their own Patagonian adventure!

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The packing...

I am almost decided on what to take.  It's certainly quite different to pack when you will be backpacking with most of what you take with you for 6 days of your adventure....but that 6 days is only part of your 3 week trip...and within that 6 days you need to be prepared to experience all 4 seasons, multiple times, in a single day and you want to keep your "load" to 30-35 lbs.

So far, here's what it looks like I will be taking:

• A trekking outfit (to be worn everyday we are doing the W), waterproof hiking boots, smart wool socks and liners, silk long underwear, hiking pants, short-sleeved dry fit shirt, long sleeved dry fit shirt, a medium weight thermal layer, waterproof jacket, gloves, balaclava, knit hat.  I will also bring along a fleece vest, baseball hat.  As you can see...layers are the key and on nice "summer like days" most of this will be hanging on the outside of my backpack!
• A non-trekking/camp outfit (to be worn every evening at camp/hostel while we are doing the W), extra hiking footwear, smart wool socks and liners, running tights & silk long underwear top & fleece hoodie (will double as sleepwear), medium weight thermal layer, mittens, knit hat.
• Other essential gear:  rain pants, Long-sleeve button down shirt, Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, neck pillow (blow up), toiletries & shammy towel, travel mug, water bottle (one of the best things about Patagonia is you can drink right from the rivers, no treatment necessary!), camera, swiss army knife, headlamp, flashlight, Yak Traks, Gators, Cooking Pot and sporks, sunglasses, Latin American/South American Spanish Phrase book, journal, book, my logic puzzles! and trekking poles.

What you don't see is the stove and tent we will rent and the food we will buy in Puerto Natales.

More to come...