Torres del Paine

Megan:
After a few days together in Buenos Aires, Molly, Andy, Jon and I flew down south to the small town of El Calafate which would become our transportation hub throughout our time in Southern Patagonia. Except for excellent ice cream, we found little of interest in this town overrun with tour operators and overpriced restaurants.

We did however end up renting a car for a day trip to nearby Glacier National Park to view the Perito Moreno Glacier which was absolutely incredible. Said to be one of the most active and exciting glaciers on earth, the deep blue hued Perito Moreno advances up to two meters per day. We were able to witness its 60-meter high ice-peaks break off and crash into the frigid waters below creating small tidal waves and leaving icebergs floating for miles around - quite a spectacular site.

From there we crossed the border into Chile and spent a day in the small town of Puerto Natales where we were able to stock up on food and supplies to prepare for our first backpacking trip in Torres del Paine National Park.

I have to admit I had some apprehension about all of the trekking we were planning to do in Patagonia. We had mapped out three separate treks of about 4-5 days each with large packs, tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear and enough food for the entire trek. I felt as though the whole month before Molly and Andy arrived I was filled with self-doubt. I was under the impression that everyone else was more prepared for this kind of activity than I was - stronger, more experienced, and maybe more importantly, more mentally prepared. Once we got out on the trail, I was very pleased to discover that almost all of this self-doubt was in my head (as these kinds of things typically are), and that not only could I keep up, but I was able to enjoy almost every minute of it (with a few really steep exceptions).

We spent 6 days trekking along the famous "W" trail where we were blessed with perfect weather (except for a few bouts of the strongest winds I have ever experienced) and spectacular panoramic views of enormous glaciers and snow-covered rocky peaks. During our 6-8 hours of hiking a day we encountered a multitude of glacial lakes, each one a slightly different shade of blue or green than the one before it; watched icebergs lazily float by; witnessed the day's first light illuminate the Torres del Paine (the rock towers for which the park is named); and enjoyed some great conversations.

Jon and I suspected that our time with Molly and Andy would go pretty smoothly, but we have still been pleasantly surprised with just how enjoyable planning the trip and spending large amounts of time together has been. I don't think I've spent this much time with my sister since I was in high school - it's been fantastic. And since Jon and I were packing up our lives at home right around the time Andy and Molly started dating, this month in Patagonia has been our first real chance to get to know him - and what a pleasure it's been.

Our time in Torres del Paine ended up being incredibly rewarding with spectacular natural beauty, meaningful conversations with old and new friends, and a surprising rediscovery of confidence.