Choose Your Own Adventure

Mt Fitz Roy, Los Glaciares National Park, “ is Argentina’s gem of Patagonian trekking”; “a region of exceptional natural beauty”; “one of the most extraordinary places in the world”.

Whilst I had read all this and more, as I rode Doug toward El Chalten, I was still captivated and impressed by my first view of the jagged silhouette of Mt. Fitz Roy rising up from the horizon. I never would have guessed though, that trekking Mt. Fitz Roy would end up being one of the most magical experiences of my entire holiday.

Each night we got to set up our home in the most pristine natural surroundings, under tall trees and beside lagoons and rivers of crystal clear water. Each day we trekked along gorgeous trails, drank fresh water from clear streams and lunched at magical lake and glacier lookouts. The surroundings were perfectly enchanting, the weather was wonderful, and when I think back to the time we spent in Mount Fitz Roy, I just remember feeling beautifully happy: happy, relaxed and peaceful.

The Basics
Day One – Park Doug and Dot, pack backpacks, trek to Laguna Capri (7km), setup home, explore campsite, relax by the lagoon at sunset, eat dinner, sleep.
Day Two – Nick collects cooker, I pack up home, trek to Camp Poincenot (9.5km), setup home, climb to Laguna de los Tres viewpoint (1.5km), return to camp, explore campsite, relax by river at sunset, eat dinner, sleep.
Day Three –Trek to Piedras Blancas (12km), return trek to Camp Poincenot, packup home, trek to Camp De Agostini (10km), setup home, eat dinner, sleep
Day Four, Attempt trek to Mirador Maestri but turn back due to strong winds, packup home, trek back to Doug and Dot.

Best Walk
The path to Piedras Blancas Glacier: A hugely entertaining choose-your-own-adventure style morning following a trail marked roughly by small piles of rocks! We clambered over, under, along and between rocks, boulders and rubble until we ended up at the waters edge of a pristine glacier lake directly beneath the eastern face of Mt Fitz Roy. We ate an apple sitting on a rock under a perfect blue sky. And we did not see one person, did not have to share it with any other human, not until we stood up to head back to camp...

Biggest Doh
Realizing at dinner time on the first night that neither of us had packed the camp cooker! Dohhhhhhhh! Nick definitely gets awarded the **SUPERSTAR** of the trek trophy though – for walking all the way to the bikes and back before breakfast the next morning to get it!

Yummiest Camp Food Ever
Peanut butter and sesame crackers! Yummmmmmy!