January 21 - C. Torres to Los Cuernos

Before I get back into the trek it's time for another installment of "Adventures in Eating." As I write this it is Jan. 26 and I just had dinner.  I hit a seafood place (Raices de Chiloe).  I asked for Curtano, which they didn't have (due to it being a weekend) so I ordered "Calamari con su Tinto."  I'll tell you what it was tomorrow, but until then run off to Google and see if you can figure it out.  I also ordered a Pisco Sour.  Big deal - its close to a whiskey sour (which I used to order at the Arbutus Hotel in Courtenay when I was under age).  Its OK, but I'd prefer to spend the money on another glass of wine.

Back to Torres del Paine (or TDP):  After leaving the Torres and packing up, today is a 'walk to the next campsite day,' albeit the total distance today will be 20 km, including up / down to the Torres.

Here's my last photo as I leave Los Torres.  The clouds are dropping further down the towers (on the left) and the colour has almost gone from the rocks on the right.

The lake is a very typical glacier turquoise.

 

The row of 'ants' as we weave our way down to the treeline.  A lot of these trails are very rocky - really easy to turn an ankle. 

 Looking back up the valley as the clouds drop down some more.   The towers are tucked in on the left.

Another hanging glacier.

 Here's a view of the building at Chileno.  It's showing it's age a bit more than the photo indicates.  I met Max, another German, here.  He was also an exchange student to Canada a while back, but unlike the other fellow I mentioned, Max got to stay in Montreal.  Had a 'coffee' here (A spoonful of Nescafe ceremoniously poured into a cup of hot water.)

 The mountains above Chileno.

 I've gone down the hill and am walking across the valley again.   Here's a section of tail that is a dream to walk on; almost like concrete.

 I like this photo because it is a bit spooky as the clouds envelope the mountains.  Sorry folks, but you'll have to hit Google Earth if you want to see these on a blue sky day.

 My first look a Los Cuernos tucked into the bush.  This is a hotel and pay campsite.  Campsites cost 6000 Chilean pesos ($12 cdn).  The fellow in the office didn't have correct change so I got a couple of cold beer instead of change - best deal I made all day!

The view from my tent site.  Not too shabby, eh?











A Lenga tree - I only know this because of the sign beside it.  This seems to be the predominant species around here.  The leaves sort of resemble oak to my untrained eye. 

Some more rules for using the park:
-Stay on the trails
-No open fires whatsoever
-Cook with your stoves only in the designated areas (a shack or kitchen building)
-Pack out your trash - no burning it.  

How do you like these so far, Ian?

Today's map.  We (me and a lot of my closest friends)  walked up the hill from the "X" to the viewpoint, back down, turned right and went as far as the "C" on the map (Los Cuernos).

Tomorrow it is further along the trail, drop your pack at Campamento Italiano and hike up the French Valley for a look.  See you then.