Day 12
Today we are headed out on the last leg of the W (on the left side of the letter). We will be at the base of the Torres Towers that you can see here in between the other massive mountains.
We can’t predict the views. The trails weave around the mountains on scree rock paths, packed trails and rocky stepped trails. This is the most popular trek in the whole park. We see people coming at us all day. This is our group checking out the next segment.
We can drink the water from the streams that are coming from the glaciers throughout Patagonia – everywhere. There are no livestock or people or farming here. Just us. So we only carry half a bottle of water and refill often.
To be at this lake was one of the highlights of my entire life. It is so beautiful. The wind is impressive, but there are places to find stillness.
Michael and I at the base of the Torres del Paine Towers.
Coming back down, I leave a my addition to the stump sculpture, a token rock as a memento. We will trek back through this old forest of lengue trees.
Heading out from Eco camp.
The horses kick up the trails making the first kilometers uneven hiking. After this, the trail bed flattens out.
We stop briefly here at a refugio. Wind is very strong. This is the last bano all day. Many other hikers on the trail.
Roberto is a trekker, not a climber. He says this place is very dangerous for rescuing injured people. Helicopters can’t make it in. The mountains are very high.
The avalanches make thunderous rumbles all the time. This is almost to the tree line.
Loose rock from huge melting snow fields have carved out valleys of boulders.
It isn’t always obvious which way to go!
The last big climb is up through this stuff. With all the trekkers, the pathway is pretty stable, but I pick my steps for hours – up then all the way back down.
See the people crossing the mound of dirt? The look smaller than the size of ants in the middle of the sandy mound. They are crossing the last 100 meters of scree rock before the Towers – two of which are visible now.
Here is a close-up of the people!
I am thrilled to make it to the base!
Gabriel is thrilled to make it! I can’t fit him in the pix!
Gabriel was a porter. This is his first summer as an asst. guide. He studied biology and knows all the plants and trees on the trail.
Feels pretty good!
Whew! Dome feels pretty good now!
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