Torres del Paine - day 4 - dest 5

So my last day of the W was the shortest but with the strongest Patagonian wind. After the previous day I was amazed my feet even moved in the morning. It’s amazing how your body sorta gets with the flow. I did decide not to make it to the second look out cause that was a 7 hours day and I felt pretty accomplished with my efforts so far. Also I heard numerous people say the first lookout is the best view cause you get a sense for its vastness and it was gorgeous. But before that I still had my last day’s struggle cause well the mountain weather you know.

I can’t capture it with words or picture even to explain how strong the wind was today. I thought the first day was bad but today was another level. When I get good enough wifi there will be a video that might help explain but essentially you had to plant each step with dear life to ensure you weren’t blown away. Initially I thought the walk against the wind was ridiculously hard, and it was. It took all my body weight to ensure I could move and put one step in front of the other. But the return was equally challenging cause though the wind was with you it was easier to be blown downwind with it and off the right course.

first view of Lago Grey

this tree was not toppled over on my way there - that’s how strong the wind was!

the insane wind on the lake

Finally a gruelling 1.5 hours later I made it to the look out. The glacier is huge and a great view indeed cause you actually get the full feel for it. How far it goes. I somehow managed to walk up to the top despite the wind and hopefully captures some pics that aren’t blurry. It was a mission. But the icebergs floating along the big Lago Grey and the glacier right there in all the glory was quite spectacular.

trying to make it to the edge

A snack later I returned at a good 2pm and had the rest of the afternoon to relax, calm down and take my boat at 6:30. I had successfully completed the W trek of Torres Del Paine!

still one of the bluest lakes I ever saw Lake Pehoé

goal accomplished so time to put legs up and rest!

time to say goodbye to the W trek

The funny thing is going back in the bus I actually felt like I could have done more now. Alistar and Shasha were on the way back with me too and they heard of a new distillery that opened in Puerto Natales called Last Hope. And so that was going to be the end of our successful trip.

The distillery is great, opened by two Aussies, it’s got all the design hipster features, it is the southernmost distillery, they do gin and more recently whisky too! They paid such great attention to us, taking the time to explain the process and differences. Great spot and highly recommended.

Last Hope distillery

our reward

So in summation, day 1 and 3 were the best. Of course the weather played a big part in this but day 3 might even win over day 1 if it weren’t for the actual towers.

I met some amazing people during the trek; Anna my fellow trekking buddy and without whom I think day 2 would have been so much more miserable. A lovely American couple from New York, Alistair and Shasha. A German women Silke and our fellow Dane Maria. Others of course you meet and say holà as and when you pass them but these ones we spent the most time with and they were such fun. I am a little sad it’s over and I won’t be running into these people on a daily basis. It’s such a pleasant surprise crossing paths with people you know during different moments of your day trek.

And so my first big experience of South America is successfully complete and with it my first ever multi day trek too! It’s been a whirlwind of 5 days with emotions, pains, laughs and surprises. I’m so so glad I managed to do this. It’s worth everything and was all I hoped it would be. Now as the seasoned hiker that I am, off to conquer El Chalten and Mt Fitzroy.

off into the sunset we went

one of my favourite views Frances and Los Cuernos