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A view of the stunning scenery in the Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. To the left is the Paine Grande hill and on the right the Cuernos (or horns) del Paine. The Hosteria Pehoe is reached by footbridge and offers 25 rooms with this view
Cuernos del Paine, Chile
Lago Nordenskjöld, Torres del Paine, Chile
Cerro Paine Grande, Cuernos del Paine y Torres del Paine, Chile
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Cuernos del Paine, Patagonia, Chile
In the time we were in one of my most favourite places in the whole world, Torres Del Paine in Chile, I got up for sunrise every morning. Now, in fairness I only had to walk about 3 minutes from our campsite to this amazing view. What a treat. At the time of the year we were there, the rising sun would hit the side of the Cuernos and illuminate it in this Blood red dramatic light. It is a jaw dropping show of nature <3
Thank you Cris.
Getting clear views of the mountain peaks in Torres del Paine NP, Chile can require great patience. On this occasion we could barely stand in the wind, despite the apparent calm of Lago Nordenskjold (middle distance), while the Cuernos del Paine remained frustratingly clothed in swirling cloud. A sight to behold nonetheless. A stitched panorama of two frames from an Olympus C750UZ.
This shot was taken on the Condor Lookout Trail. At the top you have a great view of the Paine Grande and the Cuernos (horns) del Paine and Lake Pehoe. On the Island in the lake is the Hotel Pehoe.
Day two of the W Trek was epic!
I just conquered the base of the Cuernos del Paine, their jagged peaks scraping the sky. Soaring above them were countless condors, one swooping so low it sent a thrill through me. (Darn camera was packed away thanks to the light drizzle and my grip on poles!)
Speaking of epic, towering to my right is Paine Grande, the park's king at a whopping 2,884 meters (9,462 feet)! Those are the slopes I'll be battling on days three and four (mostly four, whew!).
Now, how far am I from Mountain Hostel Francés by that gorgeous lake (Nordenskjöld, by the way)? It's right on the shore! Thankfully, Refugio Frances (Domes) is my home for the night, just a scenic 3-3.5 hour, 14-kilometer (8.9-mile) walk from here. Torres del Paine, you are seriously stealing my breath away!
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PS. I'll be postin' some pictures of the Cuernos del Paine peaks, one of the most awestruckin' sights in the park, in the next few days. Ain't decided on the colors or which ones to post, but they're gonna blow your mind!
As I approached the Cuernos del Paine ("The Horns") in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, a wave of exhilaration washed over me. These weren't just any mountains; they were ancient giants, sculpted by millions of years of geological forces.
The Cuernos del Paine are special for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they're a laccolith, a dome formed when magma pushed between layers of sedimentary rock but never quite broke through. The molten rock cooled and hardened underground, and over time, the overlying rock eroded away, revealing the laccolith's magnificent form. It's one of the most spectacular examples in the world!
Secondly, the Cuernos del Paine are a beautiful tapestry of two distinct rock types. The light-colored rock is granite, the hardened magma that forms the laccolith itself. The dark, banded rock is sedimentary rock, deposited on top of the granite millions of years ago. This contrast creates a truly stunning visual effect.
Some of the named ones include:
*Cuerno Este: 2,200 m.a.s.l (7,218 ft);
*Cuerno Norte: 2,400 m.a.s.l (7,874 ft);
*Cuerno Central: 2,600 m.a.s.l (8,530 ft).
The experience of walking around these titans was unforgettable. As I drew closer, several condors, their wings spanning an incredible 3 meters (10 feet), soared gracefully above the peaks. These majestic mountains are a haven for hikers and climbers worldwide, and it's no wonder they hold a special place in my heart.
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PS 1. Four condors are soaring around the peaks. They are marked in the photograph. They appear small due to the distance.
A three image panorama, hand stitched, of the Paine Massif in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile. The Cuernos del Paine peaks are on the right.
Heading over from the right bank of the lake:
The second day of the W Circuit 6-day trek, from Central Mountain Hostel to Francés Mountain Hostel, is considered to be a moderate to challenging hike. The distance is approximately 17 km (10.5 miles), with an elevation gain of 700 meters (2,300 feet). The total hiking time is estimated to be 6 hours, but this can vary depending on your fitness level and the number of breaks you take.
The trail is well-marked and follows a variety of terrain, including forests, meadows, and rocky sections. There are also several river crossings, which can be challenging if the water levels are high. The hike is generally considered to be the flattest of the 6 days, but it is still not a walk in the park. There are some steep sections, and the trail can be muddy and slippery in wet weather.
If you are a fit and experienced hiker, you should be able to complete the second day of the W Circuit 6-day trek without any problems. However, if you are not used to hiking long distances or carrying a heavy backpack, you may want to consider taking a shorter hike, renting a horse or hiring a guide.
My W Circuit Adventure:
I started the walk after a hearty breakfast and ordered the lunch box. Carry all the stuff, that is, a 60L (13 gallon) backpack. All batteries charged. Clean lenses. I started the second day of the W Classica trail at 9:52 am.
The walk that day was lonely, but I needed those moments: A mix of meditation, prospecting and contemplation, recording every detail of the route. I lost track of time admiring that landscape and knew I would arrive late at the Francés refuge at 5:07 pm.
A Postcard-Perfect Landscape:
The trail unfolded like a scene straight out of a postcard. Towering, snow-capped peaks dominated the horizon, their reflections shining in the crystal-clear glacial lakes I passed.
The awe-inspiring Cuernos del Paine:
The most famous place of the day is the Cuernos del Paine. The Cuernos del Paine or 'Paine horns' is a collective name given to a set of spiky granite peaks in Torres del Paine National Park, all of which stand at over 2,000 meters (6,561 ft) high. It was humiliating to be overshadowed by such greatness!
The mountains themselves were a constant source of awe to my right. The wonderful Almirante Nieto mountain (2,270 m / 9,333 ft), granite giants such as Los Cuernos del Paine (three peaks measuring 2,600 m / 8,530 ft, 2,400 m / 7,874 ft and 2,200 m / 7,217 ft) and Cerro Paine Grande in the background (3,050 m / 10,006 ft) loomed large, their jagged peaks scraping the sky. It was like walking through a Jurassic Park scene, only much more beautiful!
Glaciers and Glacial Lakes:
Speaking of glaciers, the entire route was full of them, and their turquoise meltwater fed the countless lakes and rivers that dotted the landscape. Nordenskjöld Lake to my left stands out in my memory - a huge expanse of glacial water, a constant reminder of the powerful forces that sculpted this incredible landscape.
Ah, the second and last "bridge" of the W Trail's second day. More like a rickety wooden handshake with the other side, this beauty offered a moment of "is this safe?" contemplation before I gingerly tiptoed across. Let's just say it wasn't built with a herd of overenthusiastic tourists in mind.
This wobbly wonder served as a perfect metaphor for life's little "bridge crossings." You see, most of the day wasn't spent waltzing on picture-perfect walkways. Nope, it was either an icy foot bath or a game of mountain goat hopscotch across slippery rocks. Just like navigating the real world, sometimes you gotta get a little wet, a little unsteady, but you keep moving forward, fueled by the knowledge of that crystal clear glacial water waiting at the end (seriously, folks, fill your bottles!).
Those majestic mountains surrounding us, the Cerro Almirante Nieto and Los Cuernos del Paine giants, mirrored life's grand challenges too. We traversed a path that felt like a mountain coaster on steroids, zigzagging for kilometers (miles) with a steady climb. But hey, just like conquering that wobbly bridge, the view from the top was totally worth the slightly-terrifying journey.
Spoiler alert! The three longest and highest suspension bridges are on my fifth and sixth days. There is even a warning for people who are afraid of heights.
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Important note: The two wooden suspension bridges on this trail (Central to Francés) can be crossed in the fall through the glacial waters (which are low) with good waterproof boots or barefoot, or if you have good balance, you can hop from rock to rock to the other bank. In the summer, I think it is impossible due to snowmelt or summer rains.
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Meine Patagonientour 2024 - my Patagonia tour 2024.
Sunset at Cuernos del Paine (2681 m) - Sonnenuntergang an den Hörnern des Paine.
My Patagonia tour video (30 min, with many great moments) is now online
youtu.be/n-ZEhEksDs0?si=wmQGgP-RHiDuWDiy
My "explored" album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/LzXVPNJ098
My new Patagonia album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/9uj859Ec84
My Canon EOS R / R5 / R6 album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/bgkttsBw35
My tour album since 2019 is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/SKf0o8040w
My landscape album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/YB7434Jid0
My nature album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/27PwYUERX2
My miscellaneous album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/ubwV7qGXSB
Die ganze Geschichte gibt es hier:
www.dslr-forum.de/threads/patagonien-2024.2164658/
Patagonien
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonien
Patagonien bezeichnet den Teil Südamerikas, der sich südlich der Flüsse Río Colorado in Argentinien und Río Bío Bío in Chile sowie nördlich der Magellanstraße befindet. Eine genau festgelegte Abgrenzung gibt es nicht.
Patagonia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia
Patagonia is a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and glaciers in the west and deserts, tablelands, and steppes to the east. Patagonia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and many bodies of water that connect them, such as the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, and the Drake Passage to the south.
Mountains:
Towering, snow-capped peaks dominate the horizon, their reflections shimmering in the crystal-clear glacial lakes that line the trail – a scene straight out of a postcard.
The Cuernos del Paine, a collection of spiky granite peaks exceeding 2,000 meters (6,561 ft) in Torres del Paine National Park, steals the show. Being dwarfed by such grandeur is humbling!
These majestic mountains were a constant source of awe. The impressive Almirante Nieto (2,270 m / 7,447 ft), the Los Cuernos del Paine giants (three peaks measuring 2,600 m / 8,530 ft, 2,400 m / 7,874 ft, and 2,200 m / 7,217 ft), and the colossal Cerro Paine Grande (3,050 m / 10,006 ft) loomed in the background, their jagged peaks scraping the sky. It felt like walking through a breathtakingly beautiful Jurassic Park scene!
I am walking down and up the left side of the lake on the right bank:
Lakes and Rivers:
The W Circuit's second day, from Central Mountain Hostel to Francés Mountain Hostel, is known for its moderate-to-challenging hike. This journey is approximately 17 km (10.5 miles) and involves an elevation gain of 700 meters (2,300 feet) and takes roughly 6 hours, although this depends on your fitness level and breaks.
The well-marked trail winds through various terrains, including forests, meadows, and rocky areas. Several river crossings can be tricky during high water. While considered the flattest day of the 6, it's no cakewalk. Steeper sections exist, and the trail gets muddy and slippery in wet weather.
PS. On my sixth day, I'll be exploring the other side of the lake, going in the opposite direction.
Max. length: 15 km (9.3 mi)
Surface area: 28 km2 (11 sq mi)
No additives, no Photoshop, no saturation bumped up...
The lake in front of the famous "Cuernos" of the blue mountains of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile is Lake Pehoe. It's really that color, and it's incredibly beautiful. Breathtaking isn't an exaggeration.
The famous W Trail goes around these mountains in this view. Also the well-known peak of Torres del Paine is behind these mountains on the right side of this photograph.
It's very remote. We rented an SUV and we had to drive on the rocky unpaved road to get to these areas (there are several different ways to get to the park) - but it was well worth it.
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Torres del Paine National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Torres del Paine) is a national park encompassing mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers in southern Chilean Patagonia. The Cordillera del Paine is the centerpiece of the park. It lies in a transition area between the Magellanic subpolar forests and the Patagonian Steppes. The park is located 112 km (70 mi) north of Puerto Natales and 312 km (194 mi) north of Punta Arenas. The park borders Bernardo O'Higgins National Park to the west and the Los Glaciares National Park to the north in Argentine territory. Paine means "blue" in the native Tehuelche (Aonikenk) language and is pronounced PIE-nay.
Source: Wikipedia
Torres del Paine National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Torres del Paine) is a national park encompassing mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers in southern Chilean Patagonia. The Cordillera del Paine is the centerpiece of the park. It lies in a transition area between the Magellanic subpolar forests and the Patagonian Steppes. The park is located 112 km (70 mi) north of Puerto Natales and 312 km (194 mi) north of Punta Arenas. The park borders Bernardo O'Higgins National Park to the west and the Los Glaciares National Park to the north in Argentine territory. Paine means "blue" in the native Tehuelche (Aonikenk) language and is pronounced PIE-nay.
Source: Wikipedia
This is a view of the Cordillera Paine from a boat across Lago Pehoé. The turquoise colour of the lake is due to rock flour particles that are left from glacial erosion. The photo is a panorama stitched from 3 photos taken from a moving boat which miraculously stitched without any obvious artefacts.
About 12.6 million years ago, a granite laccolith (light gray) intruded into existing dark sedimentary rocks, uplifting and metamorphosing them. Then glaciers carved deeply into the resulting mountain, leaving caps of dark rock as 'roof pendants' and resulting in the iconic formations seen today.
'Tis a rare black and white from me!
Dramatic clouds compliment a mirror-like reflection of the Cuernos del Paine mountains in Pehoe Lake in this black and white image taken at sunset. Torres del Paine National Park in the Patagonia region of Chile is famous for these rugged landscapes.
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