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Main | Journal: Patagonian I | ||
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Patagonian Region - Puerto Natales, Chile Sunday, March 28 Brrrrrrr!
After spending the first six weeks of my trip sweating through Brazil
and Northern Argentina, I have met sub-freezing temperatures here at the
bottom of the world. In an earlier e-mail, Elliot alluded to what I
lost in Europe. A more appropriate list to keep track of on this trip
is what I didn't bring (sleeping mat, fleece, good hiking boots, wool
socks, gloves, wool hat, thermals, etc.). I was so conscious of keeping
my load light that I overlooked a few essentials. By the way, if your
shoe size in U.S. terms is 12 or greater, don't expect to find a single
pair of shoes or boots to fit you in South America--land of the small
feet.
The past two weeks have been spent well. From walking on a glacier with
crampons; sharing a pot of pasta amongst four people (for four
consecutive nights); staring into an endless sky filled with more stars
than I thought possible; warming my severely frozen digits by a
crackling campfire; enjoying the picturesque landscape of crystal-clear
lakes, glaciers of the purest blue color, skies of the same, uniquely
crafted rock formations--all at once both harshly jagged as well as
smooth and serene; plunging down an icy glacier wall and climbing back
tooth and nail with a pair of ice axes; watching the earth, once again,
swallow the sun amidst a spectrum of colors as the backdrop for an
unforgettable scene. Yes, this is the good life. Now, if we could only
do something about the cold weather...
Within the next few days, I'll be starting a week-long trek around
Parque Nacional Torres Del Paine, a primary stop for any backpacker as I
have learned over the past few weeks. Arriving here today, elicited
memories of my trip to Alaska, with this small, sleepy town surrounded
by snow-capped mountains and pristine lakes. Joining me on the trek
will be the Aussie bloke that I've traveled with for the past few weeks.
Not only is he a great traveler but he also has a tent and a cooker!
The two girls from London will be splitting from us as they don't care
to be out in the cold for such a long time.
Hope all is well back home.
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