Chile:Torres del Paine

Jan 10
Love the Explora experience. Great food, well traveled, interesting and friendly people from all over the world. Arrived at an unassuming set of buildings, and enter upon a very cool enviroment of understated yet sofisticated style, unbelievable scenery, and great service. Sharon and I unpack and quickly go to hear about the afternoon choices of activities. I choose the 3 hr hike leaving in 10 minutes and rush to get ready. It is a moderately difficult hike with very strong wind gusts. I am worn out by the time we return. I take a hot bath to rejuvenate for evening presentation of the next days activity choices, and a specially ordered satisfying dinner. I have fun socializing and working on blog but get to sleep too late.
Jan 11
6am wake up call. We take boat ride on lake to place where picked up by dingy and taken to shore for great 4 hr hike to see Glaciers. At the end of the hike we are served a picnic and then are picked up by dingy, taken to previous boat, and brought very close to the Glaciers. The Glaciers are Spectacular! Incredible! Unreal! I will try to arrange to be able to walk on a Glacier. I swim in the lap pool and then enjoy the hot tub before chossing next day hike and hearing a very interesting lecture on Chile and Patagonia geological history. Sharon and I were invited to have dinner with a wonderful coouple from San Fransisco. I feel so priviledged to be having so many extraordinary experiences.

Jan 12

The view from the look out point of Toro Heights is fantastic. I see Paine Grands Mt. with hanging glaciers, the French Valley, the Horns, the meeting of the milky Gray River and the blue Srano River (which then both meet the Pacific Ocean), and the huge emerald green Toro Lake where it meets the Paine River. The amount of sediment creates the color of the water. The way down was steep with crumbled slate and sandstone (600 ft). Van was waiting for us to return to Explora. Swam, hot tub, and dinner.

Jan 13

Today was one of the highlights of my trip. 6:15 am pick up to ice hike on a Glacier! Driven by Explora van to zodiac, then onto the boat I was on to see glaciers, on to another zodiac to reach the Glacier. After 15 minute lesson on how to use the crampons(metal cleats) by my private guide, I put them on and a harness. (There are usually 10 people and 2 guides, but today, I am the only person, and 2 photographers preparing a web site for the glacier hiking co have another guide. I am in several pictures they take). It is like walking on ice cubs with cleats. My guide holds tightly onto my harness as I step close to the crevices, and look down into the deep blue revines and take pictures. The red and yellow colors are absorbed by the ice, but the blue color is not, hence the blue color. It appears as if there is a blue light underneath the ice. Blue rivers of water flow on top of and below the ice, sometimes creating small caves. It is truly awesome!!

The glacier is constantly moving, so it changes everyday. I am very lucky that the sun keeps coming out causing everything to sparkle. At the end of the hike there are gusty winds, and the toes on my left foot are numb. I was on the ice for 3 hrs, but it felt like only 45 min. I hand wash laundry, take a swim and hot tub, give out tips, have a great dinner, and say goodbye to new friends, many of whom also leave tommorrow to continue their journeys.