Torres de Paine

So how was Torres de Paine you ask? Since it is what everyone talks about? Over-crowded, over-priced. Yes it is quite beautiful and fantastic but the hiking trails had so many millions of rich little American kids all of which you want to slap that it really killed the nature of the place. More like Towers of Pain (Paine actually means blue is some local dialect). Seriously over crowded, skip this place…

But that aside. Really pretty, millions of hikes to do. Ok, the W and O circuit are more crowded than that picture of 200 people waiting at the peak of Everest, but that aside…

Torres del Paine

We had great weather coming in. Camped at the base of the Torres Del Paine climb, great view.

Neighbor van gave us a plate of meats and cheeses, cakes, and beers. Awesome start.
Zoomed in, in case the clouds hide them tomorrow like Cerro Torre.

Woke up real early next morning with a few other campers to start the hike at 7, tour busses start showing up at 8 with never ending people. Hike up was great, just a few others and only a dozen or so at the top with sunshine and a great view.

Sun rises at like 04:30, ain’t waking up that early for a pic
I see you!
No clouds to hide behind!
It was insanely windy and cold up there, and we went on a quite still and warm day. After 10 minutes you were good.
The darkness approaches.

After 30 minutes we were frozen, turned around, and started heading back. Call it Schadenfreude, I don’t care, on the way back we ran into the million hikers going up, took so long to go down, but within minutes the clouds overtook the towers for for the rest of the day. Muuu-hahaha!!! Eat that little rich brats!

Really green valleys here.

Made it down, was way more exhausted than expected, and on our way to a serene little lake, really pretty and peaceful and calm. At night some serious winds came in, happens in Patagonia, glad we have Hubi and not a tent.

Glacier Grey

What’s that? More glaciers? Took a seriously over priced Catamarán over to one of the other bases of the W trail, yes more Americans, and did a go-go-go hike up to glacier grey. Made it in time to check it out and hurry hurry back to catch the cat. Made it back enough in time I ninja’d a shower from the tent camping ground. Nothing beats putting on the sweaty wet hiking socks you’ve had on for the past multiple days after coming right of the shower. They were still warm.

Pro-tip, you can start the same but go to French valley if there is go is weather for some awesome views. Glaciers are best seen in overcast (more blue) and ultimate tip, just skip this all cause the ferry cost too much.

From the first lookout, thing is big and impressive and blowing cold air at you non-stop. Just like all of them. Funny how massive beautiful pieces of nature get boring.
Mini lake filled with not so mini icebergs.
Once again, no perspective how huge these things are.
Literally goes on forever. Literally.
Iceberg hang-out
There was a waterfall on the way, have to catch them all

Cuernos del Paine

As seen in Civ6, we got almost a great view of these bad boys except the tiny cloud on the tip of one. Pretty stuff.

Can you feel the Paine?
The mountain on the left, have to get its name. Big surprise, a glacier on top.

Salto Grande

Yup, was a big waterfall on way to the Paines. Wasn’t that grande though, just fat and slow. More like Salto Americano. Can you tell my landsmen drove me bitter here?

Serenity now

And that was it! Beautiful place, I can give a lot of tips how to do the W trail without reservations but with a campervan, but just do the O route, or best of all, do all the day hikes away from these two for some great views and serenity now.

Next stop, the hunt for tires comes to an end, and Pengüinos!

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