Off The Deep End

Jammie describes the awesome nature of the Perito Merano Glaciar. Words fail, but here she goes trying anyway.

This time lapse fails to capture the power and majesty of the glacier, but it is all we have so enjoy.

Every year thousands of tourists flock to El Calafate on the shores of Lago Argentino. This town serves as the gateway for Parque Nacional Los Glaciars which features at least a dozen glaciers, but none as impressive, famous or accessible as the Perito Merano Glaciar.

We left Chile behind to venture across the border into Argentina. Ben had prepared us for the horrors of customs and immigration from his prior trip across this particular border. To our pleasure and surprise Argentina could apparently care less what we brought into their country. Unfortunately we had needlessly ditched our mayo, mustard and peanut butter and I had pointlessly hidden my coffee, chocolate and other foodstuff contraband.

On Monday we headed into the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. This Chilean national park is the jewel of Patagonia. We took the bus into the park and then a boat across Lake Pahoe to start the trek known as the "W" on the west side. The first day we set up camp and took a short hike onto a hill above the camp. The opening segment of our trek was exciting and awe inspiring.
The second day we headed up to the lookout to Glacier Grey, about 6 km up a trail that alternately wound through stands of small trees and out onto wind blasted rock ridges.