Torres del Paine National Park -- I'll be pulling information about this location from Frommer's Argentina & Chile, our bible while here in S.A.
This national park's granite peaks go from sea level to approximately 9,000 ft. and are next to the Andes but are a separate geologic formation created around "3 million years ago when magma began growing and pushing its way up, taking a thick sedimentary layer with it. Glaciation and severe climate weathered away the softer rock, leaving the spectacular Paine Massif whose prominent features are the Cuernos (which means horns" [in the middle-right of this picture) "and the Torres" (towers - not visible in this picture). The black sedimentary rock is visible on the upper regions of the Cuernos. Behind the Paine Massif are several glaciers that descend from the Southern Ice Field.
In reference to the severe climate mentioned above, we just missed experiencing the famous hurricane force winds that rip through this region during the spring and summer in South America.
Our trip started by flying from Calama to Santiago and then onto Punta Arenas arriving early evening. We ditched our stuff at our hotel and headed out to see the town. What a difference from Calama. Punta Arenas is the furthest south you can fly in Chile and that isolation in conjunction with a European population fleeing Yugoslavia, Russia, Spain and Italy during World War I make for a Chilean city with a small-town European feel regarding cleanliness and architecture.
The following morning a van picked us up and we enjoyed a 5-hour drive to Torres del Paine passing by lakes filled with flamingos and fields filled with llama-like guanacos and ostrich-like rheas.
We were able to participate in a half-day hike upon our arrival at which time we had the opportunity to experience those fierce winds we had heard about. It was approximately a 2 1/2 mile hike offering grand views of the park and a 800 foot climb -- great way to begin our stay. Upon our return, we explored the walkways around the lodge. Our room was on the other side of the lodge facing the Paine Massif.
This picture was the view from our room.
Our second day in Torres del Paine began at 7 a.m. with a boat ride to the starting point of our hike with our ultimate destination of the Glacier Grey. This was approximately a 7 1/2 mile hike with views of icebergs in Grey Lake, the Southern Ice Field, and the Paine Massif from the back side. We had a picnic lunch and returned by boat offering us a closer look at the glacier wall.
Below is our first view of Grey Glacier. The young lady in the middle was our guide -- Pepa.
Our second full day of hiking took us on a hike to the base of the Paine Towers leaving at 7 a.m. and driving approximately an hour to the Cerro Paine Ranch where we began a approximately 1100 foot ascent through the Ascencio River Valley, a walk through forests of beech trees (just beginning to change into their to fall colors), past gorges and then climbing a glacial moraine (another approximatly 1100 foot ascent) until reaching the Towers vista point where we enjoyed a picnic lunch. As I was climbing the glacial moraine, I was actually wondering if it was worth it -- it was! Unfortunately there was not a boat or a helicopter available to return me to the lodge but the return trip was definately easier.
Our third day of hiking involved a half-day stroll to a waterfall and then a lake with the Paine Massif behind it and then a free afternoon to enjoy the view from the lodge. We left the following morning at which time we took our final pictures of the Massif. What a trip!
