Last Day on the W, up to Grey Glacier and back.

The day dawned early under leaden skies. The steady rain had stopped but it was foggy and drizzling. Due to injuries and strains, four of us (me, DC, MB and TR) set out for the Grey Glacier.

After a quick-ish breakfast, we set out from the Lodge up the trail along a valley heavily impacted by the fire of 2011. The atmosphere was a little eerie with the heavy fog and burned out trees.

A steady climb up the valley led us to Laguna Los Patos (first we thought it was Potato Lake. Not. More like Duck Lagoon.) before a series of ups and downs. Then we hit a series of tricky, rocky descents

First, the usual power breakfast before the trail.

The final results of Dr. Fs handiwork.

Covered with duct tape as an extra measure. Surprisingly, the duct tape held up for quite a long time.

 

We stashed our main packs in the Lodge's gear room so we only had to take small day packs up to the glacier.

Let's do this!

Looking back at the Lodge. We'd meet back up with the rest of the Team in the afternoon.

Going up the valley in to the mist.

It didn't capture well, but this was an orange bumblebee.

A misty Duck Lagoon.

Another bee pic.

Ducks, not potatoes.

 After Duck Lagoon, we completed the ups and downs to finally reach Lago Grey.

I took this as a joke, but this is really a picture of Lago Grey that morning.

Still pretty misty as we descended some towards Refugio Grey.

This mist in the hills was actually a waterfall.

Rio Olguin.

Still more of the waterfall.

Refugio Grey just ahead!

 MB hung back at the Refugio while DC, TR and I headed up the valley towards the lookout. Surprisingly, we found the lookout only 20 minutes past the Refugio. We spent some time taking many pictures before turning around.

The Grey Glacier.

Almost done with the W!

Heading back towards the Refugio. MB had turned back and we struggled to catch up with her.

On the trip back, the mists cleared and the skies turned blue. Quickly, it also turned hot!

Ahh, there we go! Lago Grey.

Looking back up the valley.

A better, sunlit view of the waterfall.

Laguna de los patos in the sunshine.

Back down the fire scarred valley to the Paine Grande Lodge.

We also noticed that in addition to Lago Grey, there was one heck of a mountain above us! Cuerno Paine Grande slowly appeared out of the mists above us as the sun cleared the clouds.

Scorched tree with keyholes.

The striations in the rocks were remarkable.

Lago Pehoe in the distance.

This valley was burned pretty thoroughly in the 2011 fire.

Paine Grande.

Celebratory cervezas!

Dude, we did the W!

A peregrine makes itself at home.

Packing up for the trip back to Puerto Natales.

The lodge's power plant? Solar panels on the roof.

Waiting on the catamaran for the trip back to the bus stop on the other side of the lake.

Looking back as the clouds cleared to see Paine Grande.

The cat arrives.

Enjoying the trip across the lake.

Chilean and Magellanic Region flags.

 After docking on the other side of the lake we hiked over to the bus shuttle to take us back the 2 hours or so to Puerto Natales. We first stopped in Laguna Amarga where we entered the Park to pick up more passengers. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough open seats so some people were left behind. Hopefully they eventually got a ride home.

Another Rover Camper, I think this may have been the German one seen earlier.

Guanacos were all over the place.

Looking back at Paine Chico Sur, where we started the trip.

Overlooking the Laguna Amarga area where we entered the park.

On the bus outside of the Park. This looked a lot like areas of the West. There was a really cool rainbow here from the rain system earlier in the day, but I wasn't able to catch it with my point and shoot. DC got a couple of good shots that hopefully I can share later.

Saying good bye to Las Torres del Paine.

Moonrise over the storm clouds.

 We completed the long ride back to Puerto Natales and dragged ourselves to the hostel, Lili Patagonica, that we stayed in before the hike. We sent an Overhead Team to La Picada de Carlitos to grab a table. Thankfully they were open and it was packed. I was thirsty so I racked up a Schop (draft beer), Calafate Sour and an agua sin gas. Suitably refreshed, I tucked in to some ravioli. Not particularly ethnic, but good nonetheless.

Sadly, we had to hit the sack and get up early for a looooong (13+ hour) day of bus rides.

A good start.

Next up: Let's play drop the gringos off at the post-apocalyptic playground in the middle of nowhere!