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A WOWZER Moment! |
Our bus crests a hill revealing first view of Torres del Paine (Towers of the Blue Sky) National Park.
Seeing Torres Del Paine was a priority for me. It was grand and spectacular. We spent 3 days and two nights at Hotel Lago Grey which offered breathtaking views of the "Towers".
Dawn hunkering down behind a concrete block to video tape the mountains
It's true what they say about the winds of Patagonia. The day we arrived it was gale force winds and we could barely stand without getting blown over.
The back of the bus provided some wind protection
Trekkers in the Park. A popular 8 day trail circles the main set of Towers.
Crossing the fast-moving Rio Pingo
First day . . . taking a hike to a major viewpoint
Through a forest of Beech trees
The white thing is a iceberg, not a ship
Hiking across a very long sand-bar on Lago Grey
Whipping winds creating waves and white-caps
At the end of the sandbar is an island with a viewpoint of the Horns and Glacier
Gnarly tree shaped by constant gale winds
In front of the Towers and Horns
Boat-shaped iceberg on Lago Grey
Clouds parting to reveal more of the Horns of Paine
Towers to left (white spires) and Horns (dark peaks) of Paine around 8,500' - 9,500' tall
A grand view from Lago Grey (west view) from our hotel
A forest fire started in December 2011 denuded the low ridge below the Horns
Cerro Paine Grande - 10,332', tallest peak on Lago Grey
Early morning photos
The view from hotel deck
Another view of Horns from Lake Nordenskjold (southeast view)
On Lake Nordenskjold
The different colors of the Horns are result of tectonic and glacial forces that carved the massif. During the ice-age, the dark colored rock stuck above the ice. The granite which was not covered by glaciation retained the dark color. The light-colored parts are result of movement of glaciers and wind erosion.
If you look very close and use your imagination, you can see the silhouette of cowboy riding a horse on the rock-face on the right. Even a lasso above the head . . .
Hotel Lago Grey dining room with big windows
Bar room
Dining room with grand view
Chin-chin!! . . . pisco sour time
Dinner at Hotel Lago Grey
Julio, our Chilean guide in native dress, jumped out of the bushes and told us a story of native people's life on Lago Grey
It was a surprising performance . . . very nice Julio!
Via javageno
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