On my third full day in Chalten, I head for Laguna Torres. It’s about the same distance and difficulty as the Laguna de los Tres hike from two days prior, but this time the destination is the jagged quadruple peaks of Cerro Torre and its neighboring mountains, and the accompanying glacier. Instead of going up the right edge of town as you face the mountains, I’m swinging around it’s left edge, and starting on a much gentler incline with a longer walk through flat land before the last ascent. Weather seems ok to start but there’s a consistent low line of clouds cutting off the tops of Cerro Torre.
The view across the valley floor after clearing the first easy ridge out of town.
Near the beginning of the trail to Laguna Torres
Past the low grass and into the brush.
Patagonia is a massive place but the tourist trail is pretty small. As I’m taking a break for a snack by the side of the trail, I see a familiar looking backpack. It’s the French guy who I kept running into in Torres del Paine.
Further in, getting cloudier
Continuing on into the beeches, I think.
Getting up to the lake isn’t much of a problem. At the lake I see a figure seated in front of a camera on a GorillaPod and it’s no surprise when it turns out to be Bryan the Canadian time-lapse specialist. We discuss photography and lament the previous day’s boring sunset.
Later I trail him up a path that rises on the eastern edge of the lake. I’m not sure of the point of the path, it takes you closer to the glacier but your view of the mountains doesn’t really change.
Laguna Torre
Iceberg on the laguna
Hikers on the last ride before the lake.
Following Bryan along the high trail past the lake.
Color contrasts
More color contrast
View heading back down, across the wide valley. Long waterfall into glacial runoff.
Unless I want to do overnight hikes, I’ve seen the best of Chalten in three days. Time to keep moving. My next stop is a place I hadn’t even heard of before leaving the states, and is going to take me the furthest off the beaten path I’ve been so far.