January 31 - Parque Nacional Los Glaciares

So, I'm sitting here at Campamento Poincenot, in my tent, busy writing my blog.  It will be a few days before I post it, because they didn't have an Ethernet cord long enough to drag up here.

The day started off with breakfast in the hotel. pack up and head off.  I notice this beast at the trailhead.  Laura, why don't we use this instead of bikes next time.  Might be a bit hard on gas, but with the amount we eat when bicycling, we might save a few bucks.

I'm at the first viewpoint and spot this guy.  He's about 6 feet away, busy working and oblivious to me.

Here's the view.  All the peaks are in the open, but the sun is behind clouds.  Mount Fitz Roy is the highest (3405 meters)

Close up of the peaks. 

A couple of shots of the trail itself.  Look how deeply it is worn into the ground - almost 2 feet deep in some places.

And here's some boardwalk.  The trail is actually in pretty good shape and easy to use.  I think these are better kept than on Chilean side.

I roll into Poincenot camp and check out the facilities.  I have a choice - 

this:

or, this:

I'm in the lower part of the campground, but still sheltered from the trees.  This is the view fom my tent.  I hope to roll out about 0600 tomorrow morning and catch the sunrise on the peaks.  Unfortunately, you can see that the clouds are rolling in.  The wind isn't very stong (yet).

I head on up to the Laguna de Los Tres, the closest point I can get to Fitz Roy without a climbing permit.

One more trail shot.  On the way up they've made steps out of the broken rock on the trail.  Pretty nice for going up and down.  Of course, some places are rough and rocky.

I'm as high as I can get.  As you can see the clouds have rolled in.  Here's the lake (Laguna de Los Tres).

Fitz Roy hiding it's head in the fog.  Do you refer to mountains as males or females?

Last shot - this is looking back down the valley. Phenomenal view!  Back in the tent.  I've had dinner, drank the wine I said I would bring up and am ready for some reading and bed.  The wind has gotten up, but I've got the tent tied to a tree, although the occasional gust shakes it pretty well. 

See you tomorrow.