Patagonia: Torres del Paine Expedition Dispatch

Our team on the trail

Lunch break

The W trek trail

Robin and Denny

Cuernos from the trail on Torres del Paine

Along the trail on the W trek, Torres del Paine

Another Patagonia sunset

Hidden summits along the trail on the W trek

Great times in Patagonia

Linda at Cuernos Camp – our first day on the camping section of the W trek

Hugo

Weather forecast posted at French Camp, W Trek

Trek along Lake Nordenskjold on our way to Cuernos Camp

Brazilian team on the trail

The Tres amigos – Wally, Dan and Osvaldo

Sign along the trail. We are 140 metres above sea level and 51 degrees latitude south. The same latitude as Calgary in north

Lunch bags were prepared for us for each day’s hike

Denny

Lunch stop in Puerto Natales

Cliff and Bev with giant sloth in Puerto Natales

We made it to Punta Arenas – Shackleton Bar

Photo of Ernest Shackleton off leaving England for another adventure over 100 years ago

Cliff and Bev viewing drawings at the Shackleton Bar in Punta Arenas

Drawing memorializing Shackleton dogs at the Shackleton Bar in Punta Arenas

One of the greatest adventures and teamwork stories of all time

April 2016: Shackleton leaving his men on Elephant Island to go to look for help. He eventually got to Punta Arenas where he raised the funds and the support to return for them

This statue is of Magellan, the explorer and namesake of the strait

Beneath the statue of Magellan pointing at his Strait, is a bronze sculpture of a native Indian. It is said that if you kiss the toe of this sculpture, you will return to Punta Arenas. Generations of explorers rubbed his foot to a shine asking for good luck

The team went to dinner in Punta Arenas at Sotito’s