WE DID IT Y’ALL!!!
So so much to share.
To keep it real simple, we’ll try a day at a time and without explaining every little detail because it’ll just be confusing. The highlights and moments worth mentioning. To me at least. I mean it took us 3 plane rides, 3 bus rides, and 1 ferry just to get us to where we needed to start our first official hike haha
I’m hoping the pictures will tell our adventure. However, I’m disappointed in myself because I didn’t take photos of everything. The weather conditions were at times really harsh including wind so strong that it knocked me off my feet. There were also times when I just needed to conserve my energy to make it to the top of a hill.
Khang did take video, but it’ll be awhile till he’ll be able to get it all together.
Like I mentioned before, we embarked on a mission to trek the Patagonia mountains in Torres del Paine.
We definitely weren’t prepared. Ha. It was so intense. The most physically challenging experience in my life. But more rewarding than I could ever imagine. The breathtaking views were worth it. All of it. More on that later.
All photos were take with my iPhone 6 or Nikon D3200.
Okay, here we go!
The night before heading to Torres del Paine, we stayed in a small quaint town called Puerto Natales at a hostel. It’s not a fancy place, but friendly people and warm spaces.
Our first view at the Welcome Center of Torres del Paine.
The next few photos are during our bus ride to Laguna Armaga, where we would wait for a ferry.
Even though it was cold and windy, we rushed to the top of the ferry to catch the best views of Lake Pehoé.
We started our first hike from Camp Paine Grande to Camp Grey, which was about 7 miles. We also couldn’t buy food at Camp PG so we hiked the entire way on empty stomachs. My people know about “Hangry Jules”. Luckily we packed trail snacks-morale was low especially since we were eating our emergency stash on the very first day…
The first of many many breaks.
It’s kind of hard to tell now, but in the background is Glacier Grey.
I’m always holding Khang’s face in my hands. Finally captured it.
We each carried ONE BACKPACK with us. It contained mostly our clothes. We decided to go the “easy route” and bought “full board” at each refugio (campsite) so we didn’t have to worry about carrying/cooking food or carrying tent supplies.
Shout out to Emily (yes, that same Emily) for letting me borrow her Osprey backpack. It was a lifesaver. I’m planning to purchase one for myself.
Mountains in-focus.
Mountains out-of-focus.
Fields of flowers. Le sigh. Didn’t see them anywhere else than along the trails to Glacier Grey.
I tried to take as many photos of the trails as possible to show the different types of terrain we dealt with.
I cannot explain my relief when we finally saw Camp Grey!
We shared a room with another couple, who were really nice once they warmed up to us. This was the view from our window.
Needless to say, I slept very well that night on the top bunk.
And I needed all the rest I could get for Day Two’s hike to Glacier Grey.
Thanks for reading and following along,
with me
Jules.