Hospedaje Maria

Torres del paine packing list

by perfectly_zen

The luggage to Torres has to be the lighter and more anatomic possible, since you´ll have to carry it on your back most of the time, sometimes walking up hills, and against the wind, which is already tiring...
One very important thing as well is to take a waterproof cap for the bag in case it rains a bit (and that´s something to expet, even if for some minutes)....plastic bags do not work, they´ll be rotten in minutes.
Everything should be waterproof.... This I learned the worst way....=P
This might be obvious for those used to snow....but not if you are from a hot, sunny country like me, and your winter clothes are kept almost hidden at the deep, untouched back of your closet... then remember this: it is important to take thick clothes and etc....anoraks....but something more important is to keep yourself dry. If you wear too much stuff...or take a waterproof coat that does not have those sort of holes for the air to enter...you´ll sweat and will get wet the same way while walking, and meanwhile you won´t even realise it, but as soon as you stop... you´ll feel incredibly coooooold... So one nice idea is to avoid those thick clothes and coats when walking.
Also take all those impermeable coats, trousers, and boots....you´ll need it because even if it´s not rainning the wind carries some water when you´re next to lakes... So here´s a basic list:
-a good tent, if you are camping, appropriate for wind;
-a sleeping bag, even if you´re not camping, if it´s waterproof it´s even better;
- that rubber pad, to isolate;
-stove and gas;
-a small pan, a mug, spoon etc...
-plastic forks, knifes, plates if you wish;
-lots of plastic bags for the trash;
-a plastic bottle is also nice, to keep some water (you can get water from the many streams along the way);
-the "swiss" penkinfe;
-flashlights ;
-thin cord is usually useful;
-lighter (matches are not good). Hereýs one list for clothes I got from www.geocities.com/basecampcl/treking/clima.html:
- Trekking shoes and light sneakers
- 3 - 4 pairs of socks
- Fleece jacket
- 2 polipropilen long sleeve shirts
- 2 sweat pants or one expeditionary pants plus one sweat pant
- 2 T-***s
- Shorts
- Wool or fleece XXXXX
- Jacket or parka
- windstopper pants
- Sleeping clothes
- Sleeping bag and matress
- Personal higene kit
- Plastic bottle for water (350cc)
- Big bag pack

TORRES DEL PAINE : SUGGESTED ROUTE A / DAY 2

by swesn

DAY 2 : Take the left path after crossing the bridge. You pass through flattish lands with gorgeous mountains.

After 1 to 1.5 hours, you should arrive at the beautiful turqoise-coloured Lago Nordenskjold, surrounded by snowy mountains. Take a breather here and soak in the view.

The next section is through undulating rocky paths, between shrublands. Find a spot around this point for your lunch.

Soon, you will arrive at a rushing river. The speed of the river is very fast and there is no way to rock-hop across. Boots off!

The next section is nearly up a gentle slope all the way. Watch out for a peninsula that juts into the lake. Once you have passed it, you should be 1 to 1.5 hours to CAMP LOS CUERNOS.

Suddenly, you will see the very impressive and unique mountains - LOS CUERNOS. Take a moment and let the reality of knowing how lucky you are alive to see this sink in.

Beyond here, the route is round mountains or across passes. The wind can get very, very strong and vicious! Everything becomes survival-instinct by now. Personally, this was the most dangerous part for me.

You should arrive at CAMP LOS CUERNOS after a hiking time of 4 to 5 hours. You deserve a good, long rest here.

As the campsite here stinks, it is best to head 2 more hours to CAMP ITALIANO.

But the last 2 hours are NOT EASY. At one point, you are right by the beach of Lago Nordenskjold. If the weather is very windy, down by the beach is EVEN WORSE. Be prepared to be whipped around like a rag-doll.

Then, it is TOUGH uphill climb up muddy paths until finally you peter out to a flat grassland. Follow the path into the woods and soon, you will arrive in CAMP ITALIANO. Congratulations.

Total hiking time = about 6-7 hours but can take up to 10 hours, if you include rest time

Lago Pehoe and the French Glacier

by galy

The glacial run-off from the Torres and Los Cuernos empties into a series of emerald lakes. One of the bigest and most visited is lake Pehoe. You can get with a car to Pudeto, on the shores of the lake. The motor launch MV Tzonka takes you across Lago Pehoe. It is a bit expensive ($15 per person for a 1 hour boat ride) but very scenic. The other option is a boring 5 to 6 hour hike around the lake. The boat departs every other hour, on the hour.
From there you can hike into the Valle Frances. The first three hours are a relaxing hike away from Lake Pehoe and around the base of the Paine Grande (3,015m) towards the entrance of Valle Frances. Upon entering the valley you can see the spectacular sight of the glacier that top Paine Grande and the black tipped granite massifs of Los Cuernos. The trail enters the woods in the valley between these two huge mountains. The hike starts to go up the canyon. If you are not for climbing, you can cross the river to the Italian camp, go up along the river for about 10 minute until you are in the clear to see the French Glacier. The view is accompanied by the echoing boom of massive ice blocks falling off the glaciers on the other side of the river. For the way back to lake Pehoe you will need about 3 hours, a nice walk with goods views of Lake Pehoe and lake Nordenskjold

Torres del Paine - Chico Sur

by perfectly_zen

Chico Sur have a regular, common form if compared to the cuernos or torres...but I got quite impressed with it...because it is a large mountain....very very big...and covered in lots of snow... You can see the wind carying a part of the ice away and making a sort of fog...
You can see this mountain from Laguna Amarga to camping Los Cuernos.

Gateway to adventure

by kyoub

"Springtime"

December is late spring in Chile.
The countryside is all in bloom. The mountains are still capped with snow.
Torres del Paine is in the background and Puerto Natales is the gateway to get there.

"Bright houses"

We had beautiful mountain scenes from our hotel.
The houses are all brightly painted with rust colored roofs.
The colors depict the happiness of the people that live here.