A gnar day (10 km)12/22

Up at 5:45 to cook some eggs and drink shitty instant coffee for our walk to the bus to TDP at 7. We left behind a couple pounds of goods since we'd be back to the same hostel El Patagonico. The weight didn't really help my 30lb bag that I still had to carry. The clouds were dark and it was warmish out. No idea what the day's weather had in store for us. The bus took about two to get us to the east gate so we could sign our life away if we start a fire. While we waited for everyone to watch the park video, I chatted w a dude from Chicago traveling by himself because his wife doesn't like nature and this was his dream trip. While we were chatting, a guanaco came running up the hill toward us, they look like llamas or hairy deer. The bus then took us to the catamaran that disembarked at 11. The lake the boat was going to take us across was so crazy w wind. All of a sudden the wind would gust and you would see and hear water from the lake take over the sky. And we're getting in that boat!?

They let us sit on top of the catamaran, it's Chile after all. It was intense. Andy was smart and got a place just behind the captains room so it could block the wind and water, so I joined him. Everyone else got soaked. The waves were large and I could just imagine what it would be like hiking in this wind. 

We arrived at Paine Grande at the west lower side of the park. We set off and headed east and up the canyon carved out by the glacier. It was so beautiful. Flying over this land you would think it was barren but there are so many wildflowers, we even saw foxgloves. We headed up and over a small pass and the wind was nuts, although I thought it's not as bad as Iceland hiking Landamanalauger. It was pretty warm, I didn't need my hat or gloves. Very enjoyable and beautiful. 

Then we hit the top pass and we almost fell over. It was such an intense wind and it was still raining, we had to almost crawl so we wouldn't fall off the mountain. Andy was holding my hand as we walked down the path out in the open. I wasn't sure if it was raining or if it was the water from the lake 100ft below hitting our faces. Then we were both whipped w our backpack straps in the face. That was fun on the cold face, needed that. It was so gnar, all of a sudden my rain cover flew off and I remembered my damn vest was in there! The backpack is my friend Josh's and the rain cover barely fits. Andy ran back to find the vest and he succeeded. The rain cover was so tight I didn't think the wind could blow it off, just like Iceland. Luckily Andy tied both of ours down so we didn't lose them, that would have sucked. 

I was hungry but we pushed on because the site was only 2km away. I was so a happy to arrive. It took us 3.2 hours but it was pretty exhausting. We got a beer and ate a bit inside the refugio although we were camping tonight. It was so nice and warm inside I didn't want to go back out but we had to set up. This time when we went out it was cold, no more warmth from hiking. Oh damn it's going to be cold tonight. 

After we set up camp we went to the the vista of Glacier Grey. What a massive glacier, it was snow covered but you could see the bluest ice peakng through a chunks of glacier broken off in the lake. We decided to do dinner. The room for the backpackers was a hot box shit show and I couldn't stay in there. I don't care about being around other travelers because sometimes they are assholes and this place didn't change that thought, they left garbage everywhere. We saw a group of 10 from Stanford, how do I know? They have it all over their clothes. Then there were the people traveling from a National Geographic tour, really? Apparently they missed the session when they taught them manners on the trail and to stop for people coming up the hill when they are going down. Just because you are over 60 does give you a pass to not get out of the damn way. 

Anyways, we filled up our Fetachini Alfredo instant meal and headed back to the nice warm refugio and got another beer. It kinda stopped raining and we were beat so we headed out into the poor people camping area. Andy wants to wake up at 4 and add on another 3 hours to our 6 hr day tomorrow. I'm not so sure about that. At least the wind will be on our backs as we backtrack the path we came today. The dude told me less rain more wind. How is it possible to have more wind?! This shit is legit, and it's summer. 

I'm not gonna lie. I kind wish we were staying in a refugio at east one night, it's so in nice and warm inside. Oh well, back into our tent, good thing we have the zero degree bags!