Post #22
Back in El Calafate, Jason wanted to take a 4×4 adventure up a neighboring hill, so off we went.
We saw Choique birds, which looked like small ostriches; guanaco, which is similar to the llama; and some stunning scenery.
At the end we enjoyed a hearty stew, and then a brownie with dulce de leche, a creamy caramel spread. Mmmm! And we both tried grapefruit soda, which also was good.
Post #20
Then it was time to leave. With a mixture of gratitude and some sadness, we boarded the bus for our return to El Calafate.
Post #20
Post #19
We gasped when we turned the final corner and saw Mt. Fitz Roy in so much glory…
Post #18
The trees along this hike could inspire fairy tales.
We reached a beautiful overlook on our way to the lower portion of the Mirador Fitz Roy Hike.
Post #17
We took a slightly more challenging hike on day 2. Stunning views.
Perito goes everywhere with us, getting a bird’s-eye view from the side pouch of my waist pack. He comes out to pose.
Post #16
We took our first hike that evening, up the hill east of town, known for its condors. We saw a pair circling overhead.
When we got to the top, the scenery was simply surreal.
Post #15
El Chaltén is the base camp for many hikers. They tend to arrive back in town by mid-afternoon and head to restaurants.
We headed to a restaurant at the same time. I enjoyed lamb ravioli, and Jason tried the local steak and fries.
Post #14
The local Tehuelche people of the Andes called the mountain “peak of fire” (Chaltén).
Well played.
Catching it on a clear morning around sunrise is a real treat.
Perito Moreno and his company of explorers encountered the mountain on March 4, 1877, and named it Mount Fitzroy.
The town that grew near its base, however, kept the local name.
Post #13
The next day, Jason, Perito, and I boarded a bus for El Chaltén, the base for hikers heading up to the famous Mt. Fitz Roy. The ride took three hours, during which we saw wild guanaco and passed a turquoise lake backed by towering snow-capped peaks. It was the most beautiful bus ride we’ve ever been on. (The photo is from the opposite side of the bus and through a window so it only gives a vague idea of the beauty we witnessed.)
