Last full day in wonderland (12km today, 55 HTD) 12/25
Up around 4:30, determined to watch the sun rise. I didn't sleep too well again. This time I had the loud ass refugio people keeping me up and my legs were so sore that I couldn't relax. Andy went to boil hot water for coffee but came back w warm water since the building to boil water in didn't open until 730. The whole hike we could only use our camping stove in designated buildings since a forest fire started here years ago.
We started on our way at 530 taking pics of the sun rising along the way. The sun hit the snowy mountain peaks first then slowly made its way down lighting the whole valley. We were the only ones on the trail and it was how I hoped Patagonia would be, solitude. We walked across the plains and near another blue lake w the snow capped mountains in the backdrop. We saw a jackrabbit running across the path and several waterfalls coming off the mountain. The wind was blowing so hard the water was blowing up the waterfall. The land in the distance reminded me of Iceland again, green w rivers running through it. The sun came out in the morning then hid behind the clouds most of the rest of the day. I didn't miss the sun because I was hot enough hiking w my bag. Hiking in my second skin is all I need, then I bring out a toboggan, gloves or my windbreaker when the wind doesn't stop. Since the weather changes so frequently I'm constantly taking stuff on and off.
The first leg of the hike took shorter than expected which was great because my feet were already killing me. I pulled my ass/hip muscle yesterday frolicking down the mountain so I was hurting a bit. We took the hotel bypass and headed up and up toward the next refugio. It was quite a hike and I was starting to fail. We walked up a valley and the wind was ripping through it. We reached the refugio at 10, warmed up inside and ate some breakfast. I wanted to stay a bit but Andy was ready to get on it so he massaged my feet to get me ready.
By 10:30 we were in the last leg. It wasn't supposed to be such an intense uphill so I was a bit more positive than the last incline we just walked up. We hiked up through the forest which blocked the wind and the sun started to peak out again. By 11:30 we made it to Torres campsite. Joy can't express the happiness I felt to be able to out my bag down and take off my boots. We were the first ones here and made it good time, 5.5 hours total, it felt like a lot longer.
We got a spot away from the buildings where people cook so we could get some peace and quiet. Not that we have a lot of loud people in the campsites. While we were resting, Andy spotted a Patagonian Red Fox not far from our tent. He went after it and got some amazing pics. I took a nap while Andy freakin ran back down to the refugio (3km) to get us some beers, it is Xmas after all and he was determined. We refilled our water bottles in the stream while our beers cooled down in it. We then cooked dinner made up of chicken curry and mashed potatoes w baco. We chatted w a couple from Belgium and a girl from Slovakia about their 6-7 months of travel. The Belgiums have seen more US parks than I have. Apparently quitting the job to travel is the way to go. We drank our beer and the Belgiums drank their rum. Now that's the way to hike. In bed at 7, to get ready to rise at 430.