Fitz Roy

We made it out to sleepy little El Chaltén and immediately got a lesson in how tranquilo small town life can be in Argentina.  For starters, there is exactly on ATM in town, which is guaranteed to run out of money by the weekend.  We had to entirely restructure our Fitz Roy multi-day hike in order to come back into town and take out cash.  On top of this, every afternoon as we geared up to do our food and equipment shopping, the whole town would shut down for siesta.  And as for cell phone service?  And internet?  Forget it!  

El Chaltén services some of the world´s best trekking, climbing, and mountaineering.  Good luck using a credit card there. 

It took us 3 days but we finally got cash from the ATM!  Fitz Roy here we come.

Patagonia's Reds, Whites and Blues

I dug deep into my geology background to try and explain to Mark how U-shaped valleys are carved by glaciers.  

I knew coming into this hike that Mount Fitz Roy is one of the most-visited areas in the Andes.  But even I wasn't expecting the hundreds and hundreds of tourists we passed on our way to and from the most famous view spots.  But what the trails lacked in solitude, they made up for in stunning views.

Mount Fitz Roy - Patagonia´s worst kept secret

Glacier Piedras Blancas

Great shot Mark!  

One of the defining photos of our trip--Mark and I deep in the mountains at Lago de Los 3

I found another red-head in the woods!

Mark naps by Lago Capri...

...As I take in the views across the lake

It did turn overcast one day...

...So we took a quiet hike to a restaurant in the middle of the woods

Which wins the award for one of the coziest secret nooks I've ever been to!

We lucked out on the final night and I was able to take unobstructed night sky photos

And we marveled at the different moods of Fitz Roy

Like how it became painted red at sunrise

And stayed capped by clouds most of the time

And as we hiked triumphantly out of the woods, we couldn´t resist the allure of a waffle shop.  Fitz Roy has treated us well!  Many thanks for the love and support from friends and family.