At 8 a.m., we already started our hike to the foot of Mount Fitz Roy. Our “real” trekking poles stayed at home. We found ourselves a pretty good wooden substitute.
Chile 2023
Day 19: October 20
El Chaltén - Laguna de los Tres
Chile 2023
Itinerary
Today we’re going on a hike to the lake located at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy, Laguna de los Tres.
The weather is wonderful, we’re incredibly lucky! There isn’t a single cloud in the sky.
This trail is one of the most popular in Patagonia. And for good reason. It is very, very beautiful.
Sergik read the comments, and many people write that this is one of the best trails in the world. And I even agree with them.
There is a very unusual landscape here, and incredible mountains are visible all the time.
The trail is not easy, almost 11 km one way.
The first 8.5 km of the path are pleasant and gentle.
But the last 2 km are a very steep, exhausting climb, with an elevation gain of more than 800 meters.
A distant view of Mount Fitz Roy. It will accompany us throughout the entire route.
Wooden footbridges across the flooded valley
Before the steep climb, we sat down to rest and have a snack by a large rock.
While we were drinking tea with cookies, a cute little bird came to us. Serzhyk is photographing it.
Caracara, a bird of the falcon family. It was hardly afraid of us.
The final push. And we’re almost there! A tough climb behind us...
It’s not very visible in the photo, but behind Serzhyk is Laguna de los Tres lake. It’s still covered in ice for now. In summer, it has a beautiful turquoise color.
There was a very strong wind by the lake. The elevation above sea level here is about 1,500 meters.
The height of Mount Fitz Roy is 3,375 meters.
We found a good place where we sheltered from the wind behind a large rock.
We drank tea with cookies.
Then we went back.
Resting by Laguna Capri lake on the way back. There are still 4 km to the parking lot ahead, and I have almost no strength left.
The last kilometers I walked very, very slowly.
Finally, the town of El Chalten came into view on the horizon.
View of the city of El Chalten
Returned to the parking lot at 18:00; the hike took exactly 10 hours.
Serzhyk finished a little earlier; he waited for me in the car for about half an hour.
Our route for today. We covered 22 km. We ascended 840 meters and descended 840 meters.