Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey takes us from El Calafate back out into the savannah lands crossing them for several hours before stopping at a riverside cafe at the historic Hotel La Leona. Then we head upstream towards the northern entrance of Glaciers National Park. We stop at the entrance to the national park for some spectacular shots of Mount Fitz Roy before continuing to the mountain town of El Chalten. There we settle in before I explore one of the local tracks to the Miradores Condores viewpoint over the town and Mount Fitz Roy.
Today's Journey
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Leaving El Calafate in the early morning, we follow the lower reaches of Lago Argentina (Argentina's largest lake) where the Perito Moreno Glacier once flowed depositing its moraine along what is now the eastern boundary of the lake. |
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Crossing the Santa Cruz River draining Lago Argentina as we turn northward to continue following parallel to the Andes, crossing a few more smaller rivers draining old glacial lakes before stopping at a historic hotel for morning tea. |
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We turn back towards the mountains some distance north of the northern shore of Lago Viedma which flows southward into Lago Argentina. Here the moutains come back into view, including the spectacular Mount Fitz Roy towering above the other jagged peaks. |
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We stop at the northern entrance of Glaciers National Park, the most extensive section of the third largest ice field in the world. Here we get spectacular pictures of Mount Fitz Roy. |
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Our group jumps on the road in front of Mount Fitz Roy in these perfect conditions. |
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We drive a further eight kilometres before reaching the town of El Chalten, built by Argentina to force a settlement over a dispute over whether this land belongs to Argentina or Chile. The town sits under the mountain and is now quite a popular adventure tourism centre. |
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Crossing over the Rio Fitz Roy back out of town just before the start of the short Mirador de los Condores walkway. |
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View of El Chalten and where the dirty glacial Rio Fitz Roy flows into the cleaner Las Vueltas River sitting in an old glacial basin surrounded by towering rock. |
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View from the same lookout to Mount Fitz Roy as prevailing westerly storm cloud begins to envelope its 3400 metre high peaks. |
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Returning to the hostel where we are staying in the shelter of the valley. We are based here for two nights, so I'm hoping conditions will be clear for hiking the Laguna do los Tres track up towards the base of Mount Fitz Roy tomorrow. |
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