Extension from KAYAKING THE GLACIER ROUTE (3D/2N): Trekking in Southern Patagonia, Fast Track W (3D/2N)

Day 1 At 7:30 we pick you up at your lodging in Puerto Natales. Our transfer takes us along an unpaved road heading to Torres Del Paine. When entering the Park, we will have excellent picture taking opportunities of guanacos (llama family) and Grey foxes, driving alongside lagoons frequented by Chilean flamencos and black-necked swans. We left our bags in the Refugio and pick up our pack lunch. We will start our first day trekking to the base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter the Ascencio Valley. Our walk will be uphill for one hour before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech forests (Nothofagus family), glaciers and waterfalls. We’ll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (900 M), excellent for picture taking. At this point we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850 M) and a lagoon with slurry waters due to erosion produced by glaciers. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch to add to the enjoyment. After being awed by the towers we’ll start our descent, following the same path back to the hut.
(2 hours by transfer, 7-8 hours round-trip hiking, 18 KM) (BL-D) (Night at Refugio Torres)

Day 2 A private transfer will take us to the west side of the Park going around Almirante Nieto Mountain (2750 M) with Nordenskjold Lake at its base. We will take a catamaran across the Pehoe Lake. From here we commence our out and back trek to the French valley. We will start going around the south-west side of Paine Grande, the highest summit in the Park, through native forests of fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the hanging bridge over the French River to observe the first glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend (300m) for one hour amidst a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach a view point, gifting us with magnificent panoramic views, where we enjoy a good lunch. Our way back will be the same, spending our first night at the shore of the Pehoe Lake.
(One hour by private transfer, 35 minutes by catamaran, 6-7 hours hiking, 17 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Paine Grande Lodge)

Day 3 We will begin early morning with our hike to the Grey Glacier. Initially we will ascend 200mts up a winding narrow path leading us to Laguna Negra, and our first glimpses of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field with its many unclimbed mountains. We will advance through forests and crossing rivers, with possible sightings of spectacle and flying steamer ducks, up to the glacier view point. We will enjoy lunch at this place and if we are lucky, witness ice calving from the huge glacier wall into Lake Grey. We return, following the same path, with views of Cordon Olguín and Paine Grande, from where we will take the last Catamaran at 6.30 PM to start the return to Puerto Natales.
(7-8 hours hiking, 22 KM, 35 minutes by catamaran, 1.5 hours by private transfer) (B-BL)

NOTE ON DEPARTURES:
Due to some limited availability in the Refugio’s, some departures will use Chile Nativo camp accommodations instead of regularly planned Refugios. Our camp sites use North Face VE 25 - 4 season tents (3 people tent, use as a double), and we provide sleeping bags with liners and camping mattresses. The camp has access to modern facilities and hot showers. Unless noted, meals will be taken in the Refugios where camping accommodations are added. There is no extra cost associated with this and all equipment necessary will be provided by Chile Nativo, including porters to carry the camping gear. According to our experience, usually the space at the Refugios open up when we get close to the departure dates, and we have access to book the night we need. You will be notified upon booking when camping accommodations replace a Refugio night.

REGARDING THE SCHEDULE
The schedules indicated above are subject to change due to weather conditions or unexpected circumstances beyond our control, but we will try our best to keep them unaltered

Fast Track W

As atividades foram um pouco mais cansativas do que supunhamos antes da partida pois o ritmo de caminhada foi bastante intenso. O problema se agrava quando existe algum atraso no início da atividade. Por exemplo, no dia da visita ao Vale do Francês, tivemos um atraso na travessia do catamarã, e como consequência não conseguimos completar o percurso. Saliento que este fato não prejudica a nossa avaliação geral que foi excelente. Só não foi melhor por que o tempo não ajudou (estava muito nublado e chuvoso. Também temos ciencia que o programa é feito para atender a pessoas mais jovens e/ou acostumadas ao trekking.

Apesar do ritmo ser intenso é suportável e o itinerário é bastante correto. Ajudaria se fosse possível ter um período de tempo um pouco mais longo para as caminhadas, inclusive para cobrir imprevistos. Considerei uma pouco caro o valor pago pela comparação com o passeio que fizemos a El Chalten, mas a comparação é um pouco difícil pois pernoitamos em acampamentos ao invés de refúgios, e também pela diferença cambial entre Chile e Argentina.

Carlos Kayano

January 2010

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