The Perito Moreno Glacier

After our time backpacking around Fitz Roy in El Chaltén, we took a three hour bus down further south to El Calafate, a town named after a tart berry found throughout southern Patagonia. It is said that whoever eats the calafate berry is destined to return to the region. Having enjoyed the berry in the wild, on crepes, and in ice-cream form, I think it's safe to say this won't be our last trip to Patagonia.

But enough about berries. El Calafate is really known for the Perito Moreno Glacier, which is located about an hour outside of town in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (coincidentally the same national park where Cerro Fitz Roy is located--it's a big national park).

The glacier is one of only three glaciers on earth that is stable (meaning it yearly regains the ice it loses the previous summer) and is spectacularly massive. It is 97 sq. miles in total and 19 miles in length. The average height is 240 feet above the water.

We knew we had to get an up close perspective of this massive natural wonder.

A series of boardwalks and boat tours allows visitors to see the "front" of the glacier. Periodically, ice chunks fall into the water, making a thunderous sound. On a sunny day, the "rupture zone" is extremely active.

The view from the side of the glacier.

We took a five hour trek on the glacier. We saw ice rivers, caves, lakes and huge boulders moved the power of the glacier.

It's not every day you find an ice cave on a hike!

Our guides took us deep in to the middle of the glacier. An adventure like nothing we'd ever done before!

All smiles on top of a massive ice field.

I'm typically not a big fan of cold weather, but this was so much fun.

The numerous streams provided us with frigid water for drinking, and kept us on our toes during our hike.

We made a quick video with the GoPro video camera I borrowed from work (Thanks Bruce!). Check it out below!

If you ever get the chance, go for a hike on a glacier!