Exploration Patagonia leaders detail the days spent in the charming mountain town of El Chaltén celebrating the art of the climb.
On Wednesday, we were up and out of the door before dawn to get on the trail up to Lago Cerro Torre at the base of Fitz Roy and the surrounding peaks.
Our trek was 16 km round-trip, taking us up and over the bluff into the valley, and supplying us with endlessly jaw-dropping views of Patagonian peaks. It was a super long day, but everyone made the entire trek safely.
But of course one good hike deserves another, and that was the case with our second day in El Calafate. Thursday’s adventure was a quick one hour up Mirador de Las Aguilas (translated to Lookout of the Eagles), which showcased 360-degree views of Lago Viedma to the south and Cerro Grande, Cerro Torre, and Fitz Roy to the west and north.
It was much less rigorous, and left plenty of time for goofing around, exploration, and some major photo-taking.
After a brief visit to a local museum chronicling and celebrating the history and tradition of mountain climbing in El Chaltén, students were left with time to play with Betcha and Buongiorno, the friendly (and fluffy) hostel cats, go for a jog, explore the town, or dive into the local food scene.
In the afternoon students boarded a bus to El Chaltén for a few days of learning about and exploring the Viedma Glacier and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a 5,000 square mile behemoth that characterizes the region. Needless to say, students and leaders alike were sad to say goodbye to this quirky, adventurous mountain town and the lovely people (and animals) we met along the way.
– Jonathan, Bob, and Ansley
To learn more about our Exploration Patagonia program, click here!
