Torres del Paine 4

Our last day in Patagonia and we had chosen another long hike - although we were assured that it was shorter than the French Valley walk. We started off at the estancia where we had done our riding yesterday.  The walk took us along the valley that contains the Lago Azul and thereafter along the old glacial valley and through the beech forest - some of which had been burned in the 2011 fire and other bits had survived.  We saw plenty of the birds that are active in the area; we also saw both a grey and a red fox, along with the usual rheas and guanaco.  The weather was really good - very clear so we were treated to some great views.

We took lunch in the beech forest and then set out to reach and climb a viewpoint at the end of the d'Agostini Pass.  The climb up the hill was not overly onerous and the view from the top, over the lakes and rivers that are fed by the glaciers and meander to Punta Natales, was quite something.  We were at such a height that we also had views of the main massif of Torres del Paine.

(Most of the lakes are amazingly different colours!)

The descent, once we returned to the main path, was probably the trickiest part of the walk with loose and fine slate to be negotiated on a 500m drop.  We reached the end of the walk with the remainder of the group of 10 all very satisfied with the hike and the views along the way.

There was not much conversation in the return trip to the hotel - all a little tired.  Then, for us, it is a matter of sorting what we need for the next couple of days and, thereafter, for Ingrid to try to lever the rest into the suitcases.  We will be minus one pair of walking boots - Ingrid's, which failed to survive the rigours of 4 days of Patagonian paths!