The " W ", Patagonia, Chile, ( day one )

11th December 2012

Early start and Pete provides a full fry up for those mugs attempting the " W " trail. It goes down well, large chorizo sausage, fried potatoes, onions, fried eggs, baked beans, cereals, toast, hams, cheeses, spreads and it goes on. I waddle off feeling rather content not realising what's to come.

Truck to Guarderia Pudeto to catch the catamaran across Lago Pehoe' to our first refugio, Paine Grande which turns out to be fantastic. A large log cabin complex with little lounges, leather sofas and all with wood burners. Little did I know how welcome this would be at the end of the day.

We're off, Geoff and I all full of enthusiasm on the first leg, 28 km round trip to Glacier Grey through some pretty tough terrain, tough but stunning. It's a steady pace with plenty of huffing and puffing through ravines, gorges, streams, waterfalls, and evergreen forests. Weather again very changeable hence the heavy rucksack containing gear for every eventuality.

A massive fire ripped through this national park last year. Unlike Australia this will take a long time to rejuvenate.

Beautiful towering mountains surround as you trek.

Some amazing bridges to get across with signs normally stating only one person at a time 

Yours truly looking slightly jaded.

Glacier Grey, our final destination before returning to our lodge. The trek back was pretty bad as the weather started to change. We arrived in horrendous conditions but dived into our warm abode for the forthcoming night, unlike the poor souls who opted for the tent option. If it hadn't have been so bad it would have been funny.....well it was really, tents and fly sheets flying all over the place. No sooner as the tent was pegged it was off again. The howling gale didn't stop and I thought a friendly wave every now and then would offer encouragement, two fingers being the usual response ha ha .age does have its benefits. Intact I was woken from a deep sleep at 0300 by another howling gale. , the tenties still struggling, ahhhhh I'll just turn over.

Here's to day two.