After two long days on the Argentinian pampa, I reached the small but incredibly windy village of Cerro Castillo just over the border in Chile. This was my staging point for a trek around the Torres del Paine, one of the most famous national parks in South America. I decided to do the "O" and set off with enough food for 6 days. On the third day, I reached Paso John Gardner in perfect conditions and enjoyed fabulous views over Glacier Grey as it stretched down from the Campo de Hielo Sur. From then on, weather conditions rapidly deteriorated with several days of rain and high winds at low altitudes and snowfall up higher. I therefore decided to complete the simple "O" and not make detours up to the base of the towers. Disappointing, but I still saw some incredible scenery.
The window of a gas station on the pampa. Many travellers pass this way...
Back to Chile for the Torres del Paine trek.
Approaching the Torres del Paine.
Camp Dickson in a beautiful setting on Lago Dickson.
Perfect conditions to enjoy Glacier Grey from the Paso John Gardner.
The glacier's crevassed top surface.
The glacier feeds Lago Grey.
A great sunrise from the campsite at Paine Grande. The clearing in the weather was only temporary.
On this morning there was a mystical feel to the landscape between Paine Grande and Campamento Italiano.
The sun came out briefly over Lago Nordernskjold and the wind was howling.
Not all tents survived the night.
Farewell to Torres del Paine.
