Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Patagonia - El Chalten - Trekker's Paradise

Christmas Eve took us on a short three hour bus ride north to El Chalten.  El Chalten is known as the Trekking Capital of Patagonia.  It was a highlight for us because the hiking could be done right out of town (no public transit necessary!).

Upon our arrival, the whole bus got pulled into the Ranger Station for a talk.  It turns out the town is actually within Los Glaciares National Park so they have some stricter rules.  The speech by Ranger Alejandro was just fantastic.  It's clear that Alejandro really loves his park/mountains/animals and gets (justifiably) PISSED when people litter.  In particular, Alejandro mentioned "feminine products" like 5 times.  Alejandro HATES cleaning up left behind "feminine products".  Alejandro's speech was both comical and serious and we all appreciated it because I really hate coming across toilet paper or wrappers on the trail.

Alejandro preaching the Leave-No-Trace gospel.

We ate lunch and headed out for our first hike of the trip to Mirador De Las Aguilas and Mirador De Los Condores (Mirador means "Viewpoint").  The views were fantastic.


Chalten is located at the base of the Fitz Roy, Cerro Torro, and other peaks which are shrouded in mountain climbing lore.  Cerro Torro wasn't climbed until 1959 and even that account is shrouded in controversy.  We stuck to hiking but enjoyed viewing the Big Leagues of mountaineering.

Fitz Roy looking huge.
Back at our hostel, we had a mini-Christmas eve.  We had given everyone a $20 spending limit to go nuts at Trinket stores in Calafate and wrapped these presents along with a few others from home/abroad around a tiny tree the Kates brought.  A Frozen viewing and it was time to go to sleep and dream of sugar plums.

An Elf in action.

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