Mike Perkins invited me on a hike around the Torres del Paine in southern Chile in December 2024 – January 2025 along with guides Brad and Mauricio and fellow hikers Steffi and Brian. It is a rugged world – high latitude, exposed to the west to weather coming over an open ocean, coastal mountains, glaciated into U-shaped valleys and fjords (New Zealand, Norway, Alaska,…). Mild but highly variable summers and difficult winters. We did summer of course…
Puerto Natales – Jump Off Town
Formerly an agricultural (mostly sheep) town, now the tourist jump off point for the Torres and other nearby attractions.
The Route
We did the longer “O circuit” around the back of the park before joining the more popular “W circuit” on the front of the park. The Torres are so iconic, they are on the 1000 peso ($1 or so) note along with some guanocos (we saw a fair number of those on the way to the park).
Tents and Camps
We stayed in tents at each stop. The tents were already there and they provided sleeping bags as well as meals at each Refugio.
Glaciers
Lots of glaciers. The Southern Patagonian Ice Field is just north of the park and visible along with several of its southern terminating glaciers.
Hiking and the Views!
OMG.
Mike enjoying a Patagonian breeze…
Up and Down Gardner Pass (the high point)
Sometimes it Rained
…starting to rain on a bridge…
Plants and Animals
It’s not Africa, but there was a good deal of life. Porcelain orchid, Southern crested caracara (completely unfazed by us lunching 10 feet away), etc.
Kayaking
…day after we got out of the park on a fjord just north of Puerto Natales.
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