Next stop: Argentina. It was necessary to take a boat across Lago O'Higgins, then ride/push the bike along a remote and rough 25 km section of single-trail to reach the Argentinian border post at the head of Lago del Desierto. I had a great view south down the lake to 3375 m Mt Fitzroy and its surrounding peaks.
After taking another ferry to the south end of Lago del Desierto, I finally reached El Chalten.
This rapidly growing little village was my base for hikes to Cerro Fitzroy, Cerro Torre, and Campo de Hielo Sur - the Southern Patagonian Icefield. It's not an easy place to reach and the sweeping view across the Viedma Glacier to the vast icy interior was a real highlight.
Mindful of wanting to reach Ushuaia before the end of March, I pushed on to El Calafate and had my first taste of headwinds on the pampa. The next few weeks are going to be tough!
All aboard - the boat across Lago O'Higgins.
At this point I'm one of many cyclists. The nice thing is we all know each other, having ridden the same road during the previous weeks.
Unfortunately, we're leaving the good weather behind us.
Goodbye to Chile (but not for long).
Riding the pass to Argentina.
No road, just a well-worn track.
With some nice forest.
Into Argentina!
Lago del Desierto with Cerro Fitzroy in the cloud at the far end.
End of a pretty tough day.
Cerro Fitzroy and surrounding peaks in perfect weather with Lago de Los Tres in the foreground.
A redheaded woodpecker doing his thing.
Approaching Cerro Torre. Cerro Torre's the first of the three spires.
Cerro Torre from Lago Torre.
Hiking in to the Viedma Glacier.
Lago Viedma. The glacier is to the right hidden behind the hill.
Up on Paso Heumul with a view across the glacier to the peaks of the Southern Patagonian Icefield. The wind was crazy.
Perfect for condors! There were three of them.
They were fascinating to watch as they hovered effortlessly over the glacier.
Time to move on from El Chalten and cross the pampa to El Calafate.
Out in the pampa, an armadillo crossed my path.
Hi Paul,
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice day you caught at Lago de Los Tres, i just checked it out on GoogleMaps, remembering my own hike up there. I thought El Chalten is the end of the world..but you arrived from north via Lago del Desierto..wonderful !
take care
Markus