Trekking, Paddling, Mountain Biking in Patagonia!

Ain't no adventure like a Patagonia Adventure!

This trip was not easy. It was a 14-hour commute. A crazy flight, for which pilots are specially trained. It's a so much epicness, you will need a day (or 2) to recover before you can stand again. But it was worth every bruise, cut, and ounce of soreness! Over the course of 4 days, basically from the moment we landed, we experienced every type of landscape this beautiful part of Chile has to offer. There was no time to rethink anything and there was nothing else to do but crush it err day!

 

Day 1. Arrived in Punta Arenas (it's a 16 hour commute from NYC). Settled into our hostel.

 

Day 2. Explored an immense, windswept landscape on horseback. Ridiculous lunch and drinks at the estancia after.

Day 5. Came back to mountain bike this same terrain!

 

Day 3. Paddled this windy lake took nerves of steel.

 

Day 4. Did part of the legendary W trek to lake of the Mirador, at the base of the Paine Del Torres. This is ordinarily a 12-hour day. We did it in 6. And only one fractured ankle.

Day 6 and 7. Rest days. Knees shot.

Day 8. Departed Chile.

Day 1. Riding the open country like old school guaocho. Cueva del Milodon in the background.

A photo posted by Al Berrios (@alberrios) on Feb 19, 2013 at 4:48pm PST

Day 2. Manning-up to paddle this 14-footer across Eberhard Fjord in 70 mph gusts. This fjord is a 900-foot deep lake of cold glacier run-off. And the waves generated by the wind will roll you over if you don't respect it. Def not for the faint of heart. And of course, it was totally awesome. (Friendly tip: if you gotta go, remember to point away from the 70 mph gusts).

A photo posted by Al Berrios (@alberrios) on Feb 20, 2013 at 4:10pm PST

Day 3. Hiked 12 miles and 3000 feet up to Lago de Mirador to see the famous Torres del Paine on the Paine Massif, the tallest mountains this side of Chile. Majestic would be too small an adjective. The 3 towers are between 8000-9000 feet high and at the base, you can see the glaciers. 50 years ago the glaciers covered the whole lake. Today's UV index was 8 out of 11, no joke. Normal hike time is about 8 to 12 hrs; I wrapped it in 6. But I'm beat.

A photo posted by Al Berrios (@alberrios) on Feb 21, 2013 at 5:37pm PST

Day 4. Mountain/dirt biking around Lake Sophia. Sophia was the daughter of Captain Herrman Eberhard, the German pioneer that settled this entire region almost 200 years ago. The family is still around but their vast estate (think Rhode Island) was cut up and given away by dictators. This lake is now owned by another family and the route is secluded; the only way through is carrying your bike over barbed wired fences. Word, "secluded". Horses use it, too, and the amount of horsesh!t splattering on me on this rainy ride was hilarious, to say the least. Awesome day!

A photo posted by Al Berrios (@alberrios) on Feb 22, 2013 at 11:49am PST