Hiking in Patagonia – The W Trek in Torres del Paine

Most recently updated June 9th, 2022

It’s been more than a year since I returned from hiking in Patagonia, spending a week on the W trek in Torres del Paine National Park.   

I wrote a very short “I’m baack!” kind of post right after the trip, but now I’m finally getting around to sharing more details. 

Hiking the W Trek in Patagonia

Frankly,  this is partly just an excuse to post more amazing Patagonia photos! 

Be warned, this is an extremely long post, but it’s jam-packed full of useful information:

    • Different options for getting to Patagonia,
    • Torres del Paine hiking info,
    • What you’ll need to bring for the W Trek, and
    • A day by day description of my trip. 

This is all really good info for you if you’re thinking about a similar trip.  Anyway….about the place:

Patagonia, Chile is at the southernmost tip of South America, very close to Antarctica.  Torres del Paine National Park is located on the eastern edge of the continent.

It’s a place of spectacular beauty, with dark jagged snow-topped mountains, turquoise glacier-fed lakes and rivers, and abundant wildlife. Continue reading Hiking in Patagonia – The W Trek in Torres del Paine

Trail Signs and Tokens – Practical and Sentimental Journeys

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Whether you’re exploring in the wilderness or taking a fitness jog in a county park, it’s not unusual to find evidence of other people who’ve visited before you.

Trail sign in Palo Duro Canyon NP in Texas

Most often it’s in the form of trail signs giving practical information.

Sometimes personal tokens are left in an attempt to send a wish or a prayer to a loved one, or even to make contact with some greater universal entity.

You might also see official tributes to people who have contributed in some way to that green space

Sculpture in the Jean Miro park in Barcelona, Spain
Sculpture in the Jean Miro park in Barcelona, Spain

Or more simply, art.

Whatever it is and whoever it’s for,  signs and tokens left along the trail are an attempt to communicate with others.

Continue reading Trail Signs and Tokens – Practical and Sentimental Journeys

View from the Bottom of the World – Back from Patagonia

Most recently updated January 18th, 2022

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

It’s already been a full week since I made the 30+ hour return trip back home from my multi-day hiking and camping trip in Patagonia, at Chile’s famous Torres del Paine National Park.

I had the advantage of making the trip with the wonderful people at G Adventures  – and they handled all of the details and the heavy lifting.  All I had to do was show up with the right gear, and in good enough shape to make the trek.

Returning to Puerto Natales from Torres del Paine National Park.

NOTE:  I finally completed the whole trip report, with advice on what to pack, difficulty level, etc.   See the full story here.

Continue reading View from the Bottom of the World – Back from Patagonia