Today we hiked to Lago Torre, at the base of Cerro Torre. It was spectacular walk all the way, about 3 hours each way. We started out climbing the hills behind town and following the river.

Joylani clambering up the hills behind town

following the river canyon

We climbed upwards for about an hour and a half until we reached a viewpoint. During a totally clear day, the entire Cerro Torre range is visible, but we were only able to see the closer peaks on either side of the valley.

From the viewpoint, we descended down into the valley and followed the river for another hour and a half. Down in the valley, there was no wind and the walking was easy. The mountains got taller on either side of us, their snowy jagged peaks piercing the clouds. I’ve really been enamored by the sharp and jagged nature of the Andean mountains I’ve seen so far.

Eventually we came to hills of giant rocks, a glacier’s signature. The vegetation thinned out to nothing and the wind really began to howl. As we came over one hill, Lago Torre came into view. A glacier fed the lake on the opposite shore and small icebergs floated around, while chunks of ice lapped up against the shore in the intense wind. The lake was in a bowl of mountains and their steep walls rose around us.

I’m not sure if it was rain or water off the lake, but the wind pelted us with stinging water drops. We stayed just long enough to eat a quick snack and take a couple photos before we set off the three hour return journey.

Joylani said, “I´m not standing or walking until the wind dies down”

Besides our hurting feet, most of the return was a good walk. But the clouds followed us as we exited the valley towards El Chalten. The final half-hour was miserable. It was pouring rain and the usual high winds didn’t help. The wind knocked us off-balance as we walked and it was strain to walk against the wind. We could barely see, because it hurt to lift our faces. The rain was coming totally horizontal. Each of us was completely wet on one side of our bodies and completely dry on the other side- it looked very odd. We did finally make it back to the warm and cozy Albergue Patagonia, where we took nice hot showers, changed to dry clothes, and nursed our sore feet.