The day began with this sunrise view. How could it be anything but perfect! Extreme left: Cerro Torre, right: Cerro Fitz Roy. These are icons that are symbols of Patagonia, easily understandable why.
A friend mentioned to a friend that she wondered why Jenni puts up with some (all) of the discomforts of 'living on the road'. It's fair a question and we'd be the first to understand our lifestyle may not resonate with many, maybe not with any. Years ago, we might not have understood it ourselves but as Solomon wisely stated, "Everything in it's time'. We might add just for accuracy that we do have periods, usually of short duration, that might be considered uncomfortable. However, the funny thing is should you ask to itemize them we would struggle to do so. On the other hand, we could tell you of a myriad of periods filled with elation and to put it simply and bluntly, of enormous fun.
We think a great aspect of life, one which almost everyone knows but does not necessarily seek, particularly as one reaches the latter stages of life, is struggle. We believe it's fair to state that many of us seek comfort, serenity and a slower, if not easier, pace. Nothing wrong with that especially should one have worked to achieve it. Nevertheless, we've found, which we tried to use as a theme in a book we published last year, "A Life Experience As No Other...(click)" that for us, life is enhanced by struggle. Of course, we are not writing of health and other hardships. Rather, we are trying to face meaningful challenges which fit our aims. For, we've noticed, when we are not struggling to achieve goals, we end up cruising, a type of motion that takes us nowhere and in fact, is in contradiction to growth.
The target area, some 11.5kms from whence we commenced.
On the ascension, the views to the right, once we passed the 90 minutes mark, were a delight.
This picture has special meaning for us. Imagine you've been ascending for nearly two hours, heading toward a peak. On the way, you look toward the right and notice the usual group of mountains that enthrall you. We see this group each day from different positions in the town and on the various trails. However, suddenly they appear from what seems, out of nowhere. They also look smaller and surprisingly, look like models that have been placed on the earth's surface, almost as if one was building a paper-mache form. It was a surreal feeling, one that made us wonder how many different manifestations can appear of the same icon/s.
Editor reaches destination on a superb all-round day.
Lagging into the final push, he races to meet the challenge of some youngsters. Note how the peaks look like they're just over the rise of the delicately 'carpeted' top.
Editor takes a wrong turn and is blinded by color.
The hike was particularly good for many reasons. The accumulated elevation gain was over 3,300 feet. The length was 23kms of which over 4kms included walking to-and-from our apartment, the negative aspect. The views were amazing, actually even better and were on display for most of the journey. We noticed some interesting looking birds including parakeets. The forest was gorgeous with the added attraction of autumn coloring. The hike ascends the steppes until reaching the endpoint so it's a steady climb but testing. The final kilometer is steep and is over rugged terrain in which a person feels he/she is within touching distance of the surrounding edifices. Although we were tired by the closing stages of the hike, we still had a strong feeling of satisfaction as we crawled onto our beds. We rate this day-hike as a top-ten experience.
Getting ready to return. On a weather-perfect day toward the end of summer, it was chilly. The lake and glacier
below were reached from a different trail a few days earlier.
On our return, turning around to bid farewell.
The same mountain (above) viewed from a far different vantage point at sunrise on the same day.
In the distance, some 8kms, is Lake Tunel, shades of blue that are striking and vary each day.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
Editor loses focus and balance which is blamed upon dear, defenseless husband. Result: Mudpack for boots,
doghouse for him.
A reason to visit Patagonia or perhaps, three at least. The sunrises we viewed were spectacular. I think the images of the sun burning orange into the edifices are burned into our minds, too. Try tracing the outlines of the peaks/towers above to match the sunrise displays below.
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