More than well

So far, so amazing on the trek through Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. The scenary has been spectacular, the weather has been remarkable (still windy, but no rain and lots of sun!) and the people we've encountered have been fabulous. Right now my mom, dad and I are staying for two at a great lodge mid-trek ... complete with hot showers, full-course meals, big picture windows and, yep, even Internet access. We're reveling in a rest day, after many hours out on the trail. I'll post photos and many more details when we get back to civilization, but just wanted to let everyone know that all is more than well.

With love,

Amy

Chalten

Taking the llamas for a walk in Chalten

Chalten is the dusty, windy, friendly little town we stayed in before and after our trip to the ice cap. Chalten has a quaint feel, even though it's built entirely off the tourism generated by the nearby mountains of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torro, among other peaks. Cell service has yet to come to the town, and Internet barely works, so there is very little of that modern-day hustle and bustle that's so ubiquitous in the US and Europe ... and for that matter, the rest of Argentina.

Photos: Part IV of the ice cap traverse

Photos: Part III of the ice cap traverse

Photos: Part II of the ice cap traverse

Photos: Part I of the ice cap traverse

Posting photos has become much more complicated than hoped ... it's what I like to refer to as the "Argentina factor." At one place the Internet is too slow to handle photos, at the next place there are no USB ports, etc., etc. "Asi es." Translated that means, "so it is."

Another great example of the "Argentina factor" is the fact that there has been no gasoline for cars available in El Chalten for two days, and now they're saying it will be at least another two days before any arrives. Our guide, Jorge, put my parents and I on a bus to get back to El Calafate, so that we can make our transfer to Puerto Natales ... but Jorge and Luciana (our other guide) are stuck in El Chalten unless they can find enough friends who can give them a few liters of diesel to get them to the closest town, 130 km away.

So here are the fruits of a few days worth of work ... five photos ... that I'm calling Part I of the ice cap traverse. With any luck, Part II will be up by tomorrow. Enjoy!