One Last Trek

To save time and avoid the Argentinian Reciprocity Fee, I flew from the pleasant German lake town of Puerto Varas to Punta Arenas at the entrance of the Straits of Magellean and then took a 3-hour bus into Puerto Natales. The coastal town is made of small houses and mostly one-story buildings and is the jumping-off point into the Torres Del Paine. It has that "small, isolated town feel" and reminds me of Masset in Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlottes Island). The people are friendly and the town´s main economy is based on the tourist trekking crowd.    

It is the evening before I hike the classic "W" trail in the Torres Del Paine National Park in Southern Pantagonia. The park is suppose to be one of the finest parks in South America. I am hoping to see this popular trail before it becomes very crowded as the high season is just beginning as the weather improves and daylight grows longer. The 4 or 5 day trail is shaped like a gaint W with hopefully will offer sunny views of Grey Glacier, emerald lakes and the famous spirling granite stone pillars.

Most travellers are renting tents and stoves, packing in food and hiking the trail as it is very expensive to stay in the refugios (basic rustic huts) which will set you back $60+ for more for just a bed and hotels can costs up to $1000 a night, and guides charge $200 a day.

I have to go buy some food and supplies, and do some last-minute packing.