90km plus wind and one sun

Waking up to rain on the day we begin our trek through Torres Del Paine is never a good thing. And the bus showing up 10 min early (really? 10 min early? are we not in south america?!?) didnt help as we scrambled to stuff our face with our breakfast and check out. The bus ride to the national park was uneventful if not a little too bumpy. After 3 plus hour bus ride, we arrive at the ferry place to catch a boat that takes us across lago pehoe to lodge paine grande where we would begin our hike toward glacier grey. After a quick lunch (5min), we take off in the rain toward glacier grey and refugio grey, where we would be staying for the night.

As we hiked through the rain, the wind picked up. At some point, it was DEFINITELY greater than 90km. It made the rain felt like hail, ice against my face...pelting me, punishing me as I struggled to go forward. Not to mention sudden gusts of wind threatening to push you down...down the side of the mountain. Awesome. After 5 hours trekking through rain, mud, rock, and WIND, we made it to refugio grey. In comparison to people who are camping, it is heaven and we'll just leave it at that.

The next morning, we woke up to super cloudy sky but no sign of rain (yay!). Before we hiked back to Lodge Paine Grande where we would be staying our second night, we went to the lookout point for Glacier Grey. Super windy but nice view of the glacier. It is HUGE! Took us about 4 hours to hike back to Lodge Paine Grande but we made it. Started to rain about 1hr before we got back to the lodge, fun. The lodge is REALLY NICE and it even has internet, hello connection to the outside world! After assessing our situation for the next couple of days (ie trekking in more rain, Megan is getting sick, and Paige's back is not cooperating...), we decide to get off the trail the next day. Funny that I was the only one wanting to continue on...yes, prissy little Rita. HA!

HOLY MOUNTAINS is what we woke up to on our third day in the park. It was sunshine with hardly any clouds in the sky. GORGEOUS! We hiked toward Valle de France from the lodge. AMAZING view!! Totally recommend going from the west to east on the W just for this view. I know everyone goes to Torres Del Paine to see Las Torres (the towers) but man, Cerro Cuernos, in my personal opinion, is better! With the different layers of rock, it is just really interesting to see how nature formed these mountains. After crossing a scary draw bridge, Paige and I stopped a little ways into Valle de France. Found a comfy rock and just sat there in awe of the amazing views. Saw some glacier ice/snow fall off (kind of like an avalanche).

Though we got off the trail early and didnt get to hike up to see Las Torres (only saw them from the back side via Valle de France) and we didnt get refund back on the next 2 nights food/lodging, this third day made everything worth it.

I can't wait to come back to Torres Del Paine. Who would have thought? Me? Nature? Hiking? ;) Patagonia changed everything.