Hiking Argentinian Patagonia

At the border, entering Argentina, Ted is checking out a map of the province. The border checkpoint looked like the place you send the lowest person on the totem pole for duty.

Overview of our Argentinian hikes. First was the Perito Moreno Glacier area, on the far left; then all the way around from El Calafate to El Chaltén at the upper right, for hikes in the Fitz Roy area.

Four Condors and a Crested Caracara are holding a meeting on the steppe.

The terminus of the glacier is about 240 ft high; and is nearly 20 miles long.

Look closely just to the left of center, you can see spray rising where a big chunk of glacier just fell into the water of Lago Argentino

Our day trip to the Perito Mereno glacier convicted with a misty/rainy day, so the lighting was not great. Of 48 glaciers fed by the Patagonian ice field, this is one of only 3 that seems to be growing.

The elaborate walk way that allows close views of the glacier passes through a moody beech forest.

Sergio, in front of our hotel (El Quijote) in El Calafate. Nice place, and a pleasant, though touristy, town.

Our group's luggage the next morning, ready for the trip on to El Chalten.

A Mora eagle ( Geranoaetus melanoleucus) on a lovely graffiti covered boulder.

One of several viewpoints we stopped at on our drive from El Calafate to El Chaltén. Don is getting a photo of Lou. This part of Patagonia is fairly bleak.

A must stop between El Calafate and El Chaltén is La Leona. They have the best pie, and the only restrooms!

This is the part of Patagonia that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ran away to.

Ummm, good.

Lots of Butch Cassidy memorabilia here.

Approaching El Chaltén, the entry point for the northern portion of Los Glaciares NP

GPS tracks of our hikes in the El Chaltén area

After a big lunch in El Chaltén, we went on a short hike from the visitor center at the outskirts of town.

We hiked to a viewpoint, where it was quite windy. From left, Lucho, our local guide for Argentina, Laurie (crouching), Ted, holding his hat, Sergio in the orange jacket behind him, Rebecca (Dale, behind her), Sue, James, Lou, Don, and Jim.

For 2 nights, we stayed at the Cabañas Fitz Roy, about 45 min from El Chaltén. The access road is too narrow for our bus, so we walk about 10 min from the entrance.

The wood detail on the buildings here was lovely and whimsical.

Sunrise, Cerro Eléctrico, from the Cabañas Fitzroy

Today we are hiking to Mirador de la Loma, for good views (we hope!) of Fitz Roy.The out and back hike will be about 11 miles, 3100 feet of elevation.

A balanced rock along the trail. Maybe the size of a small house.