Chile 2011: Day-4 "W" Trek at Torres del Paine

Day 4 Refugio Los Cuernos to Refugio Chileno

I left Refugio Cuernos at 8:15 and started to walk alone east.

After a walk along the Lake Nordenskjold, I headed to the well signed short cut to Refugio Chileno.

Passing a huge savannah, and a turn with an amazing view of the gorges, I arrived at the Refugio at 12:45, that was a 4,5 hours walk.

I checked in and took a hot lunch in the Refugio with my new mates, the New Jersey couple, Amber and Bob.

At about 14:00, I decided to climb to the Torres del Paine mirador to see the crown of the park.

After passing a jungle for more than an hour, I arrived in the open area where there was Camp Torres. The path to the mirador at the peak was really steep, and hard to climb, but the view on the top was rewarding. The Torres del Paine peeks with the green lake were amazing.

I went down to the lake, the water was refreshingly cold. I stayed there for more than an hour, enjoying the atmosphere and chatting with mates, then started to walk down at 17:00. On the way back, I found the dead trees in the forest were really artistic that I took lots of photos of the trees.

Arrived back in the Refugio at 18:30, we had a great dinner and wine with the nice trekking mates.

Morning at Refugio Los Cuernos

4th day trekking course

morning glory at Cuernos del Paine

with pretty local girls

savannah

some people use horse

the river near Refugio Chileno

the gorges near Refugio Chileno

the path to Mirador Las Torres

the jungle on the way to Mirador Las Torres

steep path on the way to Mirador Las Torres

Torres del Paine, arrived!

Amazing Torres del Paine, the crown of the park!

the pool

we did it! all of us!

cool dead tree!

nice dinner and wine and mates!

Summary

My highlight in this traveling (25Feb-14Mar 2011) was trekking "W" route at Torres del Paine National Park, and getting on 4 days ferry trip through Patagonian fjord in Chile.
Flying from Qatar by British Air and American Airlines, after stay over at UK to see my friend, and stay over in Dallas due to plane delay, finally I entered Chile on 26 Feb 2011.
Stayed in my couchsurfing host, Paula, for 1 night, the next day I walked around Santiago city.
I flied to Punta Arenas, a city in south Patagonia, then by bus went to Puerto Natales, the city where acted as the connecting point to the famous national park Torres del Paine.
I had been planning to do "W" route trekking before I went, I planned day by day, reserved my accommodations at the refugios (mountain hostel?!).
I started the 5 days trekking at the Torres del Paine on 2 March 2011.
In 5 days, I walked and walked, walked 4 hours in the first day, then 7 hours on the second day, then 13 hours on the third day, 12 hours on the fourth day, and 7 hours on the fifth day.
(I was glad I did jogging since 2 weeks before I went... :p)
However, the view was really rewarding.
The dinner at the refugio after long hour walk was really amazing.
And meeting people during the trekking was great.

Here are the happiest moments during 5 days trek:
1. Looking at Lago Grey glaciers at the end of first day trekking, said wow many times :)
2. Dipped bare naked alone at night in outdoor hot water wooden tab at Refugio Los Cuernos, with magnificent peaks of Cuernos del Paine in the back, Lake Nordenskjold in the front, under the stars, I was happy alive :)
3. Having hot dinners in the refugios after trekking with good new mates, Cathryn Kate and Jasper, Secyl and Martin, Amber and Bob.
4. Looking at Torres del Paine, the crown of the park during the sunrise.
5. Trekking along the river in Frances Valley, between the magnificent Paine Grande snowy mountain which the glaciers cracked every 10 minutes, and the gorgeous jagged peak of Cuernos del Paine.

And the saddest things:
1. Lost in Frances Valley on the way to Camp Britanico.
2. Walking in the dark alone on the way to Torres del Paine peak at night to see the sunrise.
3. Sore feet after a long walk.

After 5 days trekking, since I had time before my 4 days ferry trip, I decided to return to Punta Arenas and see the penguins in Isla Magdalena. 5 hours trip to the island with a big ferry.

4 days ferry trip with Navimag started on 9 March 2011.
I didn't expect so much and was a bit regret before I went, but finally I was glad I did it for experience.
I upgraded my cabin to 4 persons in a cabin with window by paying with my old USD 50 travellers cheque.
I planned to write travel diary during the trip, but somehow failed... :p
The happiest moments were when we came to beautiful view of fjords with mountains and islands, the a great glaciers, and pretty rainbows. I saw few dolphins, seals swimming around, birds flying around and blue whales from far. Also socializing with people, especially my encounter with Oga, the only Asian mate on the boat. And dancing with the locals in the last night.
The saddest moment was 12 hours being shaked in the open sea (Pacific Ocean). I was seasick and vomited all my stomach contain, then I had to lay still on my bad to avoid being nausea.
They said the wave was only 3-4 meters, which was normal.
I couldn't imagine when the wave 12 meters during the storm...

Then in the third day, the captain announced the earthquake in Japan, a big one he said...
He had no further information at that time...
I was also far from internet connection for few days after the trip then found out that Miyagi the area where I lived during my 4 years school had suffered the most in this natural disaster...

Day-4 "W" Trek at Torres del Paine

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