Friendly Fox

We started day four with a light breakfast in a cozy cabin where I also encountered a couple of very friendly foxes.  This last day's hike would be fairly long but, not as difficult as the previous days.  By the end of the day my legs were a bit wobbly but, I had done it.  I hiked the W Trek.  We all agreed it was a lot tougher than we anticipated but, it was an amazing adventure.

Our world is full of adventures.  So, to my students I say: Be glad you're young.  Be courageous.  Find your own Great Adventure and live it!

See you in the classroom.

Winding, Windy and Wonderful: Day 3

They say Patagonia has all four seasons everyday and we saw a bit of everything on Day 3.  Its was up and down, left and right around bright blue lakes and mountain peaks.  All in about seven hours of hiking.  We made our way to a very windy viewpoint in the French Valley.  Then on to our third campsite; where we all gathered around a map to see where we had been the last three days and where we would be going on day 4.

Ferry and Hike to Grey Glacier

The second day was much easier than the first but, still had a few challenging segments.  We also got a chance to get up close with some of the wildlife.  The heavy wind allowed me to have a once in a lifetime encounter with a very friendly falcon once I reached the lookout point for Grey Glacier.  The winds were strong and we even got some heavy rain the last few miles.  It was nice to get back to the camp to warn up and have some dinner before heading to my tent.

Here's a video:

Hike Up to the Towers

The W Trek is in the Torres del Paines National Park and is part of many trails throughout the park. The Towers, however, are one of the most famous landmarks in all of Patagonia. The first day of hiking will take us up, up, up, then up some more to this amazing view. 

I must admit, this first day’s hike kicked my butt. It was much more challenging than I expected. The first part of the trail wasn’t too demanding and was, of course, very beautiful. From time to time we even shared the trail with horses.   As we got a few hours into the hike, the incline became steeper and the terrain became rougher. 

As the trail got steeper, my backpack seemed to get heavier and heavier. Eventually, we stopped to eat our bag lunch. I was mostly thirsty and not really that hungry but, I ate as much as I could; hoping to, at least, lighten the load in my backpack a bit. 

After our short stop for lunch, we packed up all our trash and continued our upward trek. It’s important not to leave any trash. We want to preserve this place so it will remain the same for many years to come; not only for the hikers that will follow us but, more importantly, for all the animals that call Patagonia home. Hikers have a saying, “Take only pictures and leave only footprints.”

I was hoping the trail would get easier after lunch.  I was wrong. It was beautiful but demanding. We were walking through a nice wooded area that offered shade from the sun until the altitude didn’t permit any vegetation.  As I looked through the branches and could see the bare rocks and how much further I would need to go, my heart began pounding more rapidly and I was breathing much harder. I was doubting my ability to make it the rest of the way. It was then that Christian, one of the guides, pointed out an alternative route that was much easier and also offered a nice view of the towers. 

This would be one of those moments when I would look to our BOMLA Creed and our Habits of Mind to lift up my character and perservere. I wanted to take the easy route. I was tired and I really didn’t  know if I could succeed. 

I decided to take the test; risk the failure and continue pushing upward. 

Did I make it?

See what happens in this video.