Here I am with other hikers in the background on our ten-hour hike, the first part of the four-day W circuit in Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile. The Torres del Paine National Park (Parque Nacional Torres del Paine - pronounced TOR-ehs del PIE-nay) is a national park encompassing mountains, a glacier, a lake, and river-rich areas in southern Chilean Patagonia. It is called the W circuit, and we did it in four days. First we did the 10-hour “Patagonia level” hike (ups and downs) and a long up to the top to the viewpoint to see the Torres del Paine (blue towers). A majestic and well-worth-the-hike view. Breathtakingly awesome! That night we hiked back/got a van to an estancia, where porters had our tents set up for us, and enjoyed pisco sours, which is a famous Chilean drink. The next day was along a beautiful glacial lake, at the end of which we stayed in a refugio (refuge/bunkhouse). The third day of the W was up the French Valley to view the glacier, and to hear the thunder of ice and snow avalanching off the glacier. That night in tents at another refugio. The fourth day was to Gray Glacier. An awesome trip!

Photo taken by my husband, David Hoover.   Submitted By: NULL