wind ice and snow

Left Ushuaia early - what a surprise another pre dawn departure with a huge day ahead. Had to reverse our ferry ride after departing Argentina and going back into Chile. Unfortunately the predawn departure meant that we didn't get another look at the magnificent mountain scenery until we were well past the best of it but the sunrise was absolutely beautiful. The about 100kms up the road we left Chile and back into Argentina waste of so much time. Found a good camp site next to an extinct volcano with a huge crater - Blue Lake and settled in for the night and what a night it was! I have never been in such strong winds our tent was lifting us up and the noise was like thunder in the tent. We were all up pretty early and instead on having a leisurely breakfast we broke camp - pulling a tent down in very strong winds is quite interesting. One person sits on it while one tries to fold it and the wind wins... worst folded and rolled tents of the trip but at least we didn't lose anything. A couple of people had to chase sleeping mats and bags and we lost a green plastic washing bowl still it all adds to the experience. Did have a couple of foxes visit our camp so that was pretty cool. Arrived El Cafate and our hostel around 2 a welcome site. Really pretty little tourist town on the banks of the Argentine Lake which is fed by about 30 glaciers. Quite mild so went wandering around town and had a nice meal in a posh restaurant followed by a good quiet, nights sleep. Our next day was a tour to the Moraneo Glacier - the only one that is either growing or at least maintaining its size. Stopped on the way for hot chocolate and got to feed a guanaco - so cute - we've seen lots of them on the side of the road but this was up close and very personal. They are related to Llamas, and part of the cameloid family. Did a walk along the lake shore and while it was only an hour it was wet rocky cold and then up and slippery and where were my boots - in the truck which I presumed we were taking but we didn't so my pink Nike's were put to the test and survived. Then up to the top for a board walk to see the glacier up close it is so beautiful I hope the colours show in the photos the blue in the crevasses is ink colored it snowed while we were walking apparently it snows up there quite often but we had also had snow at town level last night a very unusual occurrence and we were grateful to not be camping. At town level there is only about 100 - 200mm of rain a year as it is the shadow of the Andes. So that was good and then...we had a boat trip to the base of the glacier not quite touching but very close and it is huge. This glacier has a section that breaks off every few years we missed the last one by a month but we did hear a few section go and actually saw some break off, amazing.

4 Apr 2012

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