Well we woke up pretty early to get on the road for Torres del Paine. It was a few hours to get over there but the view was nice the whole way. We bought our greatly discounted tickets (for Chilean residents) to get into the park and unpacked our campsite. The first day was nice because we were doing a hike straight up a mountain, then right back down, so we didn't have to bring much gear. We left our tents...well I left our tents (I carried both the whole time) and only had to bring up food/water/warmer clothing.
We started our ascent up to see the first look out, the actual Torres (towers). About a half hour into our hike Tara quit and went back down to the campsite. I would be lying if I said it wasn't a very difficult hike...always climbing. I met a few older people, some germans, and some french people on the trail up, and the four of us (Kristin, Dana, Cynthia, and I) continued. We rested frequently but about an hour and a half into the hike we stopped for a little and thought about the rest of the journey (about 6 hours up to the Torres, then the return trip as well). The girls were searching for motivation and they thought of gumdrops and rainbows at the peak to push themselves to continue. All I needed personally was to know that French people had done it before...if a Frenchy could do it I knew I would have absolutely no problems.
We pushed on and the hike actually got a little easier and pleasant through the middle section. There was a river below, and the wind almost pushed us down into it a few times. We stopped for lunch at a campsite along the trail and had a really nice 4 hours up to the hard part.
We got to the point of no return before the lookout. It was a very steep climb that lasted about 2 hours. Luckily I had the idea to drop off everything but cameras to do that leg of the trip. We set off on the grueling hike but about an hour and a half in Cynthia quit. The crew was dropping like flies! I can't believe she went about 95% of the way and didn't finish off the journey to see the beautiful Torres. The picture above shows a little glacier lake and the rock formations, but the pictures don't do it justice. It was "vale la pena" (worth the effort). The formations were absolutely amazing I won't even try to do it justice with words but it was very very cool.
The hike down was much much easier and I actually ran most of the way to make it easier on my knees. I really do give the girls credit (mostly Dana and Kristin for making it all the way) because it was a difficult hike that a lot of girls would not be able to do but they stuck it out and I could barely even hear them whining (thanks to the wind). We got back to camp and I made a fire to boil the water for my ramen-type noodles. I enjoyed the salty spoils of my successful excursion but I was already begging my body to hold up for the next few days because we were only 1/4 of the way done! I was actually able to shower that night and I took full advantage knowing the next three days would not be as hygienically hospitable.
I hit the hay hard, but I woke up to winds whipping the tent around and yanking the stakes out of the ground. Good thing I had the extra noodle weight in my belly or our tent might have blown away in the hurricane like winds. It also began to rain cats and dogs on our site. My pack was outside and I was sure it was getting drenched. I was already thinking of how miserable a hike would be in the cold whipping rain with wet gear...I was buzzkilled very quickly. My weary body took precedence over my concerns and I fell asleep through the storm.
The wind later became my friend and in hours dried everything outside! The sky cleared up in the morning and the ground was not even wet. I was amazed by the turn of events, I have never seen a change in weather so dramatic and rapid...and I had a good attitude when I woke up the next morning to a perfect day.
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