We Are In Patagonia!

Yesterday was a long day of travel. We left Santiago at 9 am and landed in Punta Arenas at 1:30 pm. Then we were immediately hustled into a van and driven to Las Torres Hotel in The Torres del Paine National Park arriving at 7 pm - a 5 1/2 hour ride.  The only food we ate all day was a breakfast sandwich, airplane snacks and a candy bar purchased in Puerto Natales.  We spotted several unusual animals along our route - emu or rhea (not sure which), flamingos, llamas, and black necked swans. And possibly a condor.  The last leg of the trip we endured a 90 minute drive on a gravel road inside the park with dust billowing into the van thru the floor.  

But it was all worth it!  Our deluxe room in the 84 room hotel has a hot tub and huge bay windows that  face Monte Almirante Nieto with the spikes of Ventisquero Torres peaking from behind. Both have snow covered peaks with ever present clouds hovering overhead. The weather is unpredictable. Temps are in the mid-50's to mid-60's during the day but the wind blows almost constantly.  During today's hike it was anywhere from a gentle breeze to gale force. On top of that it sprinkled rain all day even though the sun was out enough to need sunglasses.  The meals are elegant buffets and we have box lunches to take on our hikes.  

Today we hiked the first leg of the 'W' which is a five day hike into the wilderness between peaks and hills. We will hike the second leg tomorrow then on Wednesday we hike to a Refugio (mountain hostels) from where we will hike the other two legs of the 'W'.  We did not hike the whole leg but still got in about 8 miles today.  It was a mostly gentle up-hill grade thru forest with lots of mud and creek crossings.  Horses grazing along the path were the only animals we spotted today. Panoramic views of surrounding valleys and hills were breath takingly beautiful. 

The sun sets about 10 pm.