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El Chaltén (8-10 Jan. 2000)

We really hesitating about whether to go to El Chaltén or not. We had met a funny beer-drinking german at the Perito Moreno trip (not going to see the glacier because it was raining) who had gone there, and then just seen the great mountain Fitzroy for a couple of minutes. Apparently, the weather was very unsecure in this area and there was quite a risk that would pay loads of money just to end up in a windy and rainy hell. Somehow I kept saying to myself and Anna that it was the last chance to see the most magnificent rocks we would ever see, so I eventually decided to go and Anna, not wanting to be left behind, joined me.

The tiny village of El Chaltén is situated in a valley that reminds you of the wild west (see above). We got the same feeling when wondering up along the valley towards the freaky-steep peak of Cerro Torre. The weather was good at the beginning, but started to deteriorate when we approached the Cerro. It seemed to stay like that during the evening and night. The wind was strongest we had ever experienced. At some point I couldn't even manage to stand still. We spent the end of the day playing Alphapet with playing cards in the tent. We prayed for better weather and our prayers would incidently be fulfilled.

The early sun the next morning indicated what was about to come. The weather was about to turn out miraculously fine. The views towards the rocky mountains were terrific (see right) and the clouds covering the great Cerro Torre were amazingly enough moving away. For the first time in five weeks (and in the year 2000)  the spire was finally visible (see below)!

Cerro Fitzroy

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