Patagonian Animals Oh My!

These are some of the animals we have seen along the way on our Patagonian drive.

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A new challenge

There’s no better way to look like a completely uncoordinated idiot than by trying a new sport. Fortunately for us, ice climbing turned out to be much easier than we expected, and we quickly looked like pros (ok, maybe not that good, but decent). We spent the third day of our backpacking adventure with an ice climbing guide on Torre Glacier at the foot of Cerro Torre. After our glacier trek we decided to try our hand at the real thing……crampons, ice axes, harnesses, rope, the works! Our day started with a two-hour hike into the glacier, including a river-crossing hanging upside down from our harness. After that, we spent about four hours trying out three different pitches with our guide. One even included an overhang. We’re talking about trying it again in Colorado. But, it’s a little easier to trust your life to a permanent glacier than to a frozen waterfall…… (yes, that is Betsy in that photo!)
View Photos of Patagonia Road Trip #3 (Perito Moreno Glacier Walk, Trekking Cerro Torre & Fitz Roy, and Ice Climing Torre Glacier)

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Keep on Trekkin’

The Perito Moreno Glacier is situated at the south end of Parque National los Glacieres. On the north end are, of course, more glaciers, along with two spectacular famous peaks, Monte Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. We spent the past four days backpacking around the bases of both. The park is literally a backpacker’s dream. The river water is drinkable, 100% glacier water. The trails are well-maintained, and the campgrounds are pristine. Plus, the entire time you’re staring up at the massive rock slabs at the top of the big peaks. We’re back feeling refreshed after lots of exercise, sunshine and fresh mountain air.
View Photos of Patagonia Road Trip #3 (Perito Moreno Glacier Walk, Trekking Cerro Torre & Fitz Roy, and Ice Climing Torre Glacier)

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Ice Ice Baby

We made our way down south to El Calafate, a small town made famous by its proximity to one of the largest and most impressive glaciers in the world: Glacier Perito Moreno. After a leisurely day in town, we spent our next day on a glacier trek (it sounds hard-core, but in reality any little old lady could have done it). Nevertheless, we felt like we were living in a Discovery Channel Program. Perito Moreno glacier pushes out into two huge lakes, with the walls of ice jutting out nearly 250 feet above the surface and down 500-600 feet to the lake bottom. The best part about visiting the glacier was watching it move before our very eyes. Every few minutes we would hear a loud crack, followed by a chunk of the glacier tumbling into the water below. Four or five times throughout the day we say slabs of ice the size of 20-story buildings sheer off the edge and fall into the water with a massive splash. Later on we’d see the remains floating to the surface as icebergs. Our trek took us by boat across the lake and, with crampons strapped to our feet, onto a relatively flat part of the glacier to see the various peaks and valleys formed in the ice. At the end, they served us whiskey on the rocks (i.e. glacier ice) to celebrate.

Click here to see the glacial calving in action!
View Photos of Patagonia Road Trip #3 (Perito Moreno Glacier Walk, Trekking Cerro Torre & Fitz Roy, and Ice Climing Torre Glacier)

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