It’s windy. It’s peaky. It’s confounding…in a life changing way.
The highlight of our trip thus far, the Glaciar Exploradores. It’s massive!!!
Cerro Castillo (the uncrowded version of Torres del Paine-also a highlight), very windy. We met 2 twins and 2 other guys who were gemelos as well! What are the odds?
Rio Tranquilo. This town should be called “Weather is not tranquilo!” The weather here changed every 15 minutes on us.
The weather has started to change. No more dry and hot air and afternoon iced teas. Now we’re bundled up and we have our wind breakers on if we decide to be outside for more than 10 minutes. And we’ve taken to drinking mate.
And the wild thing is that we know it’s just going to get windier and rainier.
Many powerful rivers run from surrounding glaciers.
We’re getting to see a lot of cool bridges.
Finally reached the Carretera Austral!!! One of Todd’s dreams for the trip.
Relics of Pinochet’s rule over Chile. He commissioned the building of the Carretera Austral mainly to extract natural resources, not so much to help the people.
We had a three day streak of rain after we started the famed and picturesque Carretera Austral aka Ruta 7.
We decided to go on a hike in a lush forest to get shelter from the rain.
We’re picking up lots of hitch hikers. These guys were Chilean! We got to practice our spanish.
We got to hear it calve every 30 minutes or so…global warming?
Lots of massive waterfalls. Lola looks so tiny!
Take refuge with the gnomes!
The infamous hanging glaciar in Parque Nacional Quelat.
It is pretty deserted except for a couple of tiny villages and the larger “refueling” town of Coyhiaque. It’s perfect.
We are surrounded by vast valleys and waterfalls that are flowing over themselves and misting the air.
We did get some glimpses of sunshine in Puerto Aysen.
You can take this ferry in between the nearby Chilean islands…we hope to take one up to Glaciar Steffen.
Near Coyhaique. We think this was an outcrop of coal. Pretty cool.
A private family cemetery.
Do you think it rains excessively here? The branches are covered in lichen…
Yes the cocktails go on.
A perfect pisco sour on an EXTREMELY torrential day. It was perfectly cozy inside and Todd managed to get me to play cards!
Baby goats!!!
The size and frequency of the mountains is hard to comprehend.
German hitch hikers!
It is spring here, it rains daily and the glaciers are controlling the changes every 15 minute in the weather.
Cerro Castillo’s changing weather.
Ancient graffiti. Positive paintings.
Negative paintings. It’s not entirely clear why natives made these, but it is said to be related to a right of passage.
The Coyhaique berry, looks a lot like a blueberry, but unfortunately its seeds are not.
Paradise in Patagonia (at 40 degrees of course)
Glaciar Exploradores.
The highlight of our trip thus far, the Glaciar Exploradores. It’s massive!!!
Todd is keeping his wife happy. Bringing her to pretty places.
The flooding decreased considerably by the afternoon, when we returned.
Massive milky glaciar rivers.
Sheep skins.
A view of Campo de Hielo Norte. This is the 4th largest icefield in the world.
Hi Todd and Alex! This leg of the trip is incredible so thank you for sharing it with all of us (:
Question: what makes the glacier rivers a milky color? Is it picking up sediment?
Anyway, we all miss you both, especially because it’s the Holidays! Stay safe and warm (: Can’t wait until your next post and praying for you guys! *Hugs*
By the way… How is it already almost 2017?! The year went by so quickly! I’m just hoping for more opportunities and adventures in the coming year! Love you both!
Glad you like it. Thanks for reading. The rivers are milky because the glaciers are constantly grinding away on rock creating a very fine silt. The silt is mixed with the water as it melts.
I want to know more about that cemetery and I’m sure Yvonne does as well.
Do they put the dead in those houses?
Do they stay in the houses while tending the graves and communing with their loved ones?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Hi Daniel!
Thanks for posting our picture! We hope your travels are going well. Where are you now?
We are heading towards the Salar de Atacama next. Can’t wait to see the amazing geography this region has to offer! Today Todd is working on fixing our heating pump, perhaps we will have heat while in the sub zero temps of the salars…maybe it’s just wishful thinking.
Hi Todd and Alex! This leg of the trip is incredible so thank you for sharing it with all of us (:
Question: what makes the glacier rivers a milky color? Is it picking up sediment?
Anyway, we all miss you both, especially because it’s the Holidays! Stay safe and warm (: Can’t wait until your next post and praying for you guys! *Hugs*
By the way… How is it already almost 2017?! The year went by so quickly! I’m just hoping for more opportunities and adventures in the coming year! Love you both!
Glad you like it. Thanks for reading. The rivers are milky because the glaciers are constantly grinding away on rock creating a very fine silt. The silt is mixed with the water as it melts.
Fascinating! Keep ’em coming! Hope to see you on Skype or something Sunday. John
I want to know more about that cemetery and I’m sure Yvonne does as well.
Do they put the dead in those houses?
Do they stay in the houses while tending the graves and communing with their loved ones?
Inquiring minds want to know.
The scenery looks oddly familiar. 😉
We don’t really know. They were just on the side of the road. I think the dead go in there and probably give a place to commune too.
What a marvelous journey! So glad you are posting all these photos. Our hearts are with you.
That rainbow!
Where do all the hitchhikers sit? Were you worried the first time you picked anyone up?
Hi Todd and Alex- I enjoyed meeting you both at El Mosco on Christmas Eve. Looks like South America is going well. You starred in my journal on https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1mr&page_id=490997&v=Bm . All the best.- Daniel
Hi Daniel!
Thanks for posting our picture! We hope your travels are going well. Where are you now?
We are heading towards the Salar de Atacama next. Can’t wait to see the amazing geography this region has to offer! Today Todd is working on fixing our heating pump, perhaps we will have heat while in the sub zero temps of the salars…maybe it’s just wishful thinking.