Mount Fitz Roy- Pain or pleasure theory:

  El Chalten, Patagonia, Argentina
Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The day we came, we conquered and we almost broke up..... he he:

So we came to El Chalten.... the trekking capital of Argentina to stretch our legs a little.... well turned out pulled a few muscles in places we didnt know existed...
Well we looked the part arriving in El Chalten... all the trekking gear ready to go... we nearly looked like professionals until the descent... so here how it went...
Decided to climb to the summit of the Fitz Roy mountain.. read on the brochure 26km there and back.. about 10hrs in total.... recommended 2 day trip but us professionals decided we can do this in one day...
8am... breakfast and start to base of trek
8:30am... woops we have no food... better go back and get some.. could be a long day..


9:00am... start the trek... or should i say pain... all uphill... great views... stopping to catch breath every few seconds... only one couple has passed us out so far... not so bad....

10:30am... get to first viewpoint... our first view of Fitz Roy... surrounded by a crystal clear lake... breathtaking... contrast of colours blew our minds away.. also ahead of schedule... all is good...



12:00pm... after lovely walk through forests, woodlands... this walk is good for the soul... have never felt better.... feeling on top of the world.



1:00 pm: Why you should believe warning signs: this last part of the hike is only recommended for experienced hikers... very steep...we look up and see a hill... ah this will be fine... hhhmmm spot the stupid Paddies....



Few minutes later.... i am cursing every living creature on earth... this is nuts... vertical climb.. no point turning back... have to do this.. Stephen giving me encouragement... you will regret if you dont see the view and all that bullshit... decide I am not a quitter....

2:00 pm: Get to top... i shed a few tears.... the view is amazing.... it was the clearest day for past three months.. the pictures say it all (when we finally upload them). Met some experienced trekkers that have just told us we have climbed the hardest trek in all of Patagonia.. feeling very proud but the pain is starting to hit in....



Just realised we have climbed 1300 metres, Carrauntoohil (the highest mountain in Ireland) is only 1040 metres.. feeling even prouder....pain is getting worse at the realisation that have to descend the mountain...



3:00pm: Descent is ten times worse than the ascent.... i am in pain... people are passing us out every minute... i think i have pulled my hamstring..... i am thinking of emergency services...


4:00pm: Not even half way down... Stephen has commented that a snail just passed me out... hhmmm a few curses and the nearly breaking up part....

5:00pm: Crying with pain... this is cruel...

6:00pm: Stephen helping me down every step... i think i am going to die a slow and painful death... still no sign of the town... i sick of mountains and river valley views....

7:00pm: first view of town....few more tears...

7.30pm: collapse on our bed... both cant move with pain of muscles.... quite a funny sight.. wondering how we are ever going to get up and go to the toilet or even think about eating...

8:30pm: Food and lots of sleep.


Wake up with lot of pain but so glad of what we witnessed.. decided we going to turn into trekkers... we will be the new Tom Crean.... but need a day of rest... retire to the swimming pool and sauna for the day.

Lago del Desierto:

Decide to keep to our word and do another hike... only 3km each way this time... very steep climb at the end (clinging onto tree branches), but feels like a walk in the park...we must be getting fitter... see another hanging glaciar at the top.... we nearly sick of glaciars now....



To sum it up: really enjoyed El Chalten.. really nice town and so many treks to do... you sure feel a lot healthier in this place:

Decide we want to see some of the Chilean side of Patagonia so now we off to Chile....