Patagonia 2017:
Where Are Those Towers? Día Ocho – 2/15/17 – 23 km
Nobody asked me, but so far breakfast in Chile seems poorly
organized. Following the rules and
getting in line for our assigned time of 7:00 a.m. was a rookie mistake. Everyone
wants an early start, both hostel guests and campers. The crush to show
vouchers and grab tables was a little unnerving and the cacophony of voices was
similar to last night, too much for easy conversation. Hostel food: strawberry
yogurt, corn flakes, thick dry toast with butter, jam, Nutella, slices of Swiss
cheese and scrambled eggs. We learned a trick watching a fellow make a sandwich
out of his toast, eggs and cheese, which I employed every morning after
that.
[Okay, so this doesn't convey the crowdedness, but I promise it was noisy]
Today’s hike is the park’s most famous: out-and-back to the
base of Torres del Paine. What do we
want to see? Blue sky, towering granite
spires above a glittering glacial lake.
The drizzling rain and misty clouds were not encouraging, but what else have we got to do? Anything could happen as we hike up. Other hikers shared our optimism as we
crossed Río Ascensio on the bouncy suspension bridge.
Notro flower or Chilean flower bush
Two hours of steady uphill took concentration without conversation. It was necessary to stop often and (catch our
breath) take in the expansive views up and down the Valle Ascensio.
Back over my shoulder, a sliver of Lago Nordenskjold
Up ahead, clouds are still moving
Valle Ascensio and robust flowing Río Ascensio
Danger careful slippery!
About halfway up the valley, another bridge crosses Río Ascensio to reach Refugio Chileno, smaller and more rustic than Las Torres but the best overnight option to see the Torres by moonlight or sunrise. AND there are banós! Here our little party of four took a l-o-n-g break. The weather wasn’t clearing and there was a short debate about continuing but again – what else have you got to do? Onward!
The trail soon crosses the river a third time and enters the
forest, a dense tree canopy and low undergrowth of mosses and plants, no
flowers, and yes, still going up.
Cathy must be ahead of us
On the back side of the sign
An hour-and-a-half later
the trail reached the turn to Camp Torres, where we are not going. At this junction hearty hikers seeking the
towers turn left and the serious work begins.
For a while the trail follows close by the tree line before veering out
onto an impossible boulder field sprinkled with slippery moraine. Yikes!
This giant gets everyone’s attention as a rest stop
Almost…there…
Forty-five minutes after the junction for Camp Torres, we
arrived at Mirador Las Torres…but there was no mirador today. We explored along
the rocky shoreline, keeping one eye on the dense cloud hanging near water
level. My clothes were damp with sweat
from the strenuous hike and soon I was chilled (as was everyone else). We hunkered down to eat and recover, watching
other visitors take turns posing on the edge of the “photo boulder.” The crowd
gasped as the clouds teased, but ultimately the Towers were a no-show.
We lingered for 90 minutes but saw little change. Still, the scene was breathtaking, rivulets
of water flowing down the sheer cliff sides to the milky green glass lake
surface. Disappointing not to see the Towers against a sparkling blue sky, yet
altogether thrilled to be immersed in the Patagonian landscape.
Okay, time to go
The return proved to be what’s good about an out-and-back
hike: everything you missed while you were huffing and puffing and looking at
your feet on the ascent.
Adventurers on horseback
During the hike back to the refugio, Cathy struck up a
friendship with a young French-Iranian woman named Pauline who had been in the
park for several days and was figuring out a way back to Puerto Natales. Pauline was conversant in several languages, very
outgoing and interested in each of us, as we were enthralled with her
adventures. Cathy bought her a bus
ticket and a beer and we toasted her safe travels.
Once again we endured the obnoxious dining room (chicken risotto
- not salmon! - red cabbage salad, rice pudding) and Cathy treated us to a
bottle of red wine. Carol befriended a
woman named Uta, who was eating alone at the end of our table. Don’t get me wrong: I recommend Refugio Las Torres
as very comfortable, clean and warm, but be forewarned that if you don’t love
chaos, you don’t have to be in the first round at mealtimes. Several communal spaces on the main floor have
cozy fireplaces and floor pillows, inviting folks to gather and chat about what
they’ve been doing and what’s next, and we all enjoyed chillaxing.
Well, would you look at that? Just before sunset
Tomorrow we move on to another refugio and the weather
forecast is rain, rain, rain.
“A taste for the beautiful is most cultivated out of doors.”
~Henry David Thoreau
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