Monthly Archives: May 2015

Glacier treks and marble caves

I am not sure when it happened, but early on in South America I stopped reading other travelers blogs, even our friends. Part of that was because we never had WIFI, part of it was the more we traveled, the more I felt like I wanted to have our “own” trip and not be influenced by things others were doing. Also, I found that it was easy to see some amazing picture or stories of a place that we did not go and feel regret that we missed something special.

Coming to terms with the fact that we could not see even a portion of all that South America had to offer in the year we spent here was hard, feeling regret was a distraction. I wanted us to be focused on the positive and regret is a nasty little emotion. So the more we traveled, the more we “winged it” relying more on local maps, tourist information centers, local advice and our guide books when we were in cities.

This freed us up to be bolder in our exploration, it also caused us to argue sometimes (especially when we were tired) when decisions had to be made and neither of us had any idea where we should go or what we should do. But somehow, the longer we traveled, the better we got at it all, and I feel like we had a trip that was true to who we are and what we loved doing.

One of the maps I really loved was the COPEC maps. COPEC is a huge gas station chain in Chile that had everything from free wifi to clean, hot showers. COPEC also puts out many really good maps and map/guides that were very similar to the Mile Post book we loved in Alaska. The Zona Sur guide 2015 is the only resource I used in Chile, especially in Chilean Patagonia. It rates sites, covers tourist attractions, suggests driving routes and has really detailed maps that told us if the road was dirt, paved, a ferry crossing or basically a hiking trail. The only negative was it is in Spanish, but if I can figure out a way to understand it, anyone can.

In the COPEC guide I read about Cuevas de Marmol (marble caves) in Lago General Carrera and I decided we should visit. I was intrigued. The fun thing is that Sam just kind of goes with the flow and lets me plan stuff (he actually does not like to plan things so I do it) so he is always surprised when we get to places.

In the morning as we were getting on the boat he asked, “So we are taking a boat to see caves in a lake in the early morning? I am not sure about this….” I told him to trust me and as our boat got to the first group of caves I am fairly sure he yelled out “Holy s@#!”. The caves in the morning sun were so impressive, spectacular if I might be so bold. Worth waking up at 6:30am to see. I was not very good at editing out pictures, so here are way too many pics of these lovely caves created by thousands of years of erosion.

Cuevas de Mármol

It took 6000 years of the waves crashing against the marble peninsula for these caves to be formed.

It took 6000 years of the waves crashing against the marble peninsula for these caves to be formed.

We were told the best time to go is the early morning when the sun is hitting the walls.

We were told the best time to go is the early morning when the sun is hitting the walls.

In the caves the water looked totally green and was so transparent you could see right through it.

In the caves the water looked totally green and was so transparent you could see right through it.

The erosion on some of the rocks made them look like a huge table standing on skinny legs.

The erosion on some of the rocks made them look like a huge table standing on skinny legs.

In the morning, water dances off of the rocks making them look like they are on fire.

In the morning, the light reflection on the water dances off of the rocks making them look like they are on fire.

I am fairly certian this was called the rock tree, our guide spoke in the usual 1000 mile an hour Chilean Spanish.

I am fairly certain this was called the rock tree, our guide spoke in the usual 1000 mile an hour Chilean Spanish.

Another view of the massive marble below us.

A view of the massive marble below us.

It was crazy how the shades of the water went from deep green to deep blue depending on depth of the water and what was reflecting light below it.

It was crazy how the shades of the water went from deep green to deep blue depending on depth of the water and what was reflecting light below it.

A view of the base of the rock tree.

A view of the base of the rock tree and a tour boat checking it out.

I loved looking back into the caves, we wished we had kayaked this also, but were too tired after our glacier hike to come back and do it.

I loved looking back into the caves, we wished we had kayaked this also, but were too tired after our glacier hike to come back and do it.

The boat would squeeze into all these small spaces to get into the caves. We are so tall we were constantly on head watch.

The boat would squeeze into all these small spaces to get into the caves. We are so tall we were constantly on head watch.

One last picture of some of the eroded rocks from far away.

One last picture of some of the eroded rocks from far away with the light dancing on them.

The entire time we were on this trip Sam kept saying how much his Dad Bill, a geologist would love this place. I hope we can visit Patagonia again and bring him along for this stretch.

The entire time we were on this trip Sam kept saying how much his Dad Bill, a geologist would love this place. I hope we can visit Patagonia again and bring him along for this stretch.

Exploradores Glacier

While we were in Puerto Rio Tranquilo we also decided to go trekking on glacier Exploradores part of the northern Patagonian ice field. We first tried to see if we could do it on our own and went to talk to the CONAF office in town. They told us that nobody is allowed on the glacier without a guide so we had to book an all day tour that was pricey, but worth it for us. The only trouble with any group tour is that you never know who you will get as part of your small group. We were only seven people, three young Chileans guys, an fit young Australian and a young girl from the Philippines who had never hiked before in her life. Never……

The thing about signing up for a seven hour trek across boulders and ice is that you will be, well, trekking. It was seven hours of hard hiking because most of it was across boulder fields where the glacier had receded and then wearing crampons on steep ice after that. Our young girl who had never hiked was terrified the entire trip, needed help constantly over the boulder field and slowed us down tremendously. I gave her my hiking poles to help, we took turns holding her hands over the boulders and I tried not to lose my patience. Everyone that was part of our group was really great and supportive of each other, it just was just very slow going because of one person who honestly was in no condition to be doing such a strenuous hike. This unfortunately limited our time on the glacier because it took us so long to get to it.

The drive to the glacier was spectacular! So many places to wild camp, so many waterfalls.

The drive to the glacier was spectacular! So many places to wild camp, so many waterfalls.

We arrived at the glacier trail head in the morning and it was still a bit fogged in.

We arrived at the glacier trail head in the morning and it was still a bit fogged in.

When we got to the start of the hike I was a bit surprised at how long a hike it was going to be. You can see how far away the glacier is behind me.

When we got to the start of the hike I was a bit surprised at how long a hike it was going to be. You can see how far away the glacier is behind me.

Starting the long trek to the glacier.

Starting the long trek to the glacier. This part was easier than all the boulders we had to scramble over earlier.

So happy we had a sunny, hot day so we could see everything perfectly around us.

So happy we had a sunny, hot day so we could see everything perfectly around us.

Glacier debris.

Glacier debris.

When we got on the glacier it was so much fun, it was my first time hiking in crampons and I loved it! Martin our guide said that we were super lucky to have a perfectly sunny, 80 degree, wind free day on the glacier. He said there are only about ten days a year that are like this one so we hit the weather jackpot. We climbed into ice caves, drank pristine water from glaciers, listened to the loud crack and pop of ice and had a super fun time on the ice.

A lot of the area below us was actually still frozen ice so we had to be careful where we were walking.

A lot of the area below us was actually still frozen ice so we had to be careful where we were walking.

Our group at the start of the ice portion of the hike.

Our group at the start of the ice portion of the hike.

Me and our guide Martin hiking closer to the mountain.

Me and our guide Martin hiking closer to the mountain.

So darn pretty!

WOW.

Drinking the best water of my life, ice cold and frozen thousands (millions?) of years before the world had pollutants in the air. It was so good.

Drinking the best water of my life, ice cold and frozen thousands (millions?) of years before the world had pollutants in the air. It was so good.

Sam being the awesome selfless guy he is helped Martin carry half the gear in his pack. It was so heavy I could barely lift it. Sam is in great shape.

Sam being the awesome selfless guy he is helped Martin carry half the gear in his pack. It was so heavy I could barely lift it. Sam is in great shape.

My first time in ice caves.

My first time in ice caves. And just for the record, I am standing on rocks,  I am tall, but not as tall as Sam who is 6’4″.

The ice seemed to glow neon blue in the sun.

The ice seemed to glow neon blue in the sun.

This is actually a deep pool of water that was very deep.

This is actually a deep pool of water that was very deep.

Sam hiking over an ice cave. When I saw him up there it freaked me out a bit.

Sam hiking over an ice cave. When I saw him up there it freaked me out a bit.

Sam with the glacier behind him.

Sam with the glacier behind him on the long trek back.

When we returned from the glacier I saw a few other groups stopped along the way, both of them had people with them who looked like they were on the verge of heat stroke and over exertion. One poor American lady who looked to be my Moms age and who was not in very good shape was panicked and crying under the shade of a rock saying she could not make it back. She was beet red. I was worried about her so I gave her one of my electrolyte packs, but I am not sure how she even got back to the road.

The tour groups seem to be selling these tours to anyone who would buy them and even when we bought it I was not aware of how long the hike was going to be. We had a great time even with our “slow hiker” and mainly because of our wonderful Chilean guide Martin, but I am curious how many people are doing this everyday that really should not be. So that is the only buyer beware part of booking a tour, you could have a group of people who are not really prepared or able to do this hike. But, hey, we still got to climb all over the Patagonia northern ice field, even if it was at a snails pace. =)

Ons a bit of a depressing side note, this river is the glacier melt. This glacier is receding an inch a day. It will look much different ten years from now if it is even still here. =(

Ons a bit of a depressing side note, this white, fast moving river is the glacier melt. This glacier is receding an inch a day. It will look much different ten years from now if it is even still here. =(