October 31 - November 2, 2013 - El Calafate, Argentina
Oct. 31:
I arrived super early in the morning from Puerto San Julian, the closest town to the ranch. I didnt plan anything for the day and ended up just wandering through the cute little town of El Calafate. The city is named after the Calafate berry. Its similar to a blueberry but with a milder taste. The town has managed to make serveral tasty sweets from the berry.
I also stopped in at the Laguna Nimez Reserve. It's a wetland on the edge of Lago Argentina and is home to several species of birds. The views were great and I got to see lots and lots of birds. Some I saw a bit closer than I expected.
Just before he attacked me!
Dont worry, I escaped without injury.
Nov. 1:
At 8am the bus picked me up from the hostel and we drove about an hour out to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier is unique to the area in that its the only one that maintains its size. Meaning it has then same amount of accumulation and albation. Its also in a fairly unique location. It butts up against a peninsula that seperates two large lakes. When so much ice accumulates against the peninsula it blocks the water flow from one lake to the other. The level of one of the lakes rises. At some point the pressure and weight from the high level of water work its way through the ice creating a tunnel and after a while a bridge. Until finally, the bridge collapses creating a chain reaction of calving. The water levels even out and the process starts all over again.
On a normal basis the glacier advances 2.5 meters a day. But it moves faster in the summer than in the winter. It also moves faster in the middle section of the glacier compared to the outer edges. The ice rises almost 50 meters above the level of the water and extends almost twice that below the surface. Thats A LOT of ice!
After we paid the 130 pesos entrance fee the first stop was at the outlook points. We spent about 2.5 hours walking to the different view points and watching and listening to the calving (pieces of ice breaking off) of the glacier. Ill just let you enjoy some of the pictures.
The next stop at a dock near the south face of the glacier. We hopped on a boat and took a 20 minute ride across the lake.
We disembarked and walked toward the glacier. And this is where we started the trek across the glacier. First we had to put on some homemade crampons. These are metal devices that attach to your shoes and have spikes on the bottom. They make it MUCH easier and safer to walk across the ice.
We walked up to a peak of ice on the glacier. Along the way we stopped to have a drink of fresh, ice cold water.
We admired deeeep blue mini rivers and pools.
Deep crevasses.
And we even walked on water!
I almost fell off the edge into a crevasse!
Just kidding. I only rotated the photo. ;-)
Towards the end of the trek we were surprised with a treat. Whisky on ice, but with ice fresh and direct from the glacier itself.
During our expedition I met Wendy the Australian. On the way back to El Calafate we made plans to meet up for dinner.
We met around 9pm (they eat suuuuper late in Argentina) and found an Asado restaurant. We were both craving meat and wine so that's what we got. The parilla especial for 2 ended up being a mountain of meat that could have fed and entire family. Of the meats, sausage, chicken, steak, pork, the lamb was the best. Tasty and tender! Needless to say there was plenty to take home for lunch the next day.
Nov. 2:
Wendy and I met back up to go visit the Glaciarium and Glacier Bar. Our timing was perfect. We made it to the parking lot and the shuttle pulled away right after we got in. It was just a short ride out of town to the Glaciarium. As far as museums go it was a fairly entertaining one. Im not sure it was really worth the 140pesos it cost to get in but it was a good way to kill a couple hours. I did learn a lot about how glaciers form and a lot of other glacier information. Did you know glaciers can be found on every continent?!
Anyways, after the museum we visited the Glaciar Bar! It was a 100 pesos ticket for 25 minutes of open bar in the ice. They suited you up with a parka and gloves and then opened up the big freezer door. Inside the whole place was made of ice. Ice walls, ice sculptures, ice chairs and benches, an ice bar and even the glasses were made of ice. We had a great time in the freezing cold taking pictures and trying some local drinks that the barman fixed for us.
We returned to the hostel and finished our meat from dinner the night before. Wendy flew to Bariloche but I think we will meet there too. And its looking like Ill get to meet up with Trina from Sucre on the way to Bariloche as well! Epic!
Oh and that night my hostel had an excellent asado for the guests! Yum.
Oct. 31:
I arrived super early in the morning from Puerto San Julian, the closest town to the ranch. I didnt plan anything for the day and ended up just wandering through the cute little town of El Calafate. The city is named after the Calafate berry. Its similar to a blueberry but with a milder taste. The town has managed to make serveral tasty sweets from the berry.
I also stopped in at the Laguna Nimez Reserve. It's a wetland on the edge of Lago Argentina and is home to several species of birds. The views were great and I got to see lots and lots of birds. Some I saw a bit closer than I expected.
Just before he attacked me!
Dont worry, I escaped without injury.
Nov. 1:
At 8am the bus picked me up from the hostel and we drove about an hour out to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier is unique to the area in that its the only one that maintains its size. Meaning it has then same amount of accumulation and albation. Its also in a fairly unique location. It butts up against a peninsula that seperates two large lakes. When so much ice accumulates against the peninsula it blocks the water flow from one lake to the other. The level of one of the lakes rises. At some point the pressure and weight from the high level of water work its way through the ice creating a tunnel and after a while a bridge. Until finally, the bridge collapses creating a chain reaction of calving. The water levels even out and the process starts all over again.
On a normal basis the glacier advances 2.5 meters a day. But it moves faster in the summer than in the winter. It also moves faster in the middle section of the glacier compared to the outer edges. The ice rises almost 50 meters above the level of the water and extends almost twice that below the surface. Thats A LOT of ice!
After we paid the 130 pesos entrance fee the first stop was at the outlook points. We spent about 2.5 hours walking to the different view points and watching and listening to the calving (pieces of ice breaking off) of the glacier. Ill just let you enjoy some of the pictures.
The next stop at a dock near the south face of the glacier. We hopped on a boat and took a 20 minute ride across the lake.
We disembarked and walked toward the glacier. And this is where we started the trek across the glacier. First we had to put on some homemade crampons. These are metal devices that attach to your shoes and have spikes on the bottom. They make it MUCH easier and safer to walk across the ice.
We walked up to a peak of ice on the glacier. Along the way we stopped to have a drink of fresh, ice cold water.
We admired deeeep blue mini rivers and pools.
Deep crevasses.
And we even walked on water!
I almost fell off the edge into a crevasse!
Just kidding. I only rotated the photo. ;-)
Towards the end of the trek we were surprised with a treat. Whisky on ice, but with ice fresh and direct from the glacier itself.
During our expedition I met Wendy the Australian. On the way back to El Calafate we made plans to meet up for dinner.
We met around 9pm (they eat suuuuper late in Argentina) and found an Asado restaurant. We were both craving meat and wine so that's what we got. The parilla especial for 2 ended up being a mountain of meat that could have fed and entire family. Of the meats, sausage, chicken, steak, pork, the lamb was the best. Tasty and tender! Needless to say there was plenty to take home for lunch the next day.
Nov. 2:
Wendy and I met back up to go visit the Glaciarium and Glacier Bar. Our timing was perfect. We made it to the parking lot and the shuttle pulled away right after we got in. It was just a short ride out of town to the Glaciarium. As far as museums go it was a fairly entertaining one. Im not sure it was really worth the 140pesos it cost to get in but it was a good way to kill a couple hours. I did learn a lot about how glaciers form and a lot of other glacier information. Did you know glaciers can be found on every continent?!
Anyways, after the museum we visited the Glaciar Bar! It was a 100 pesos ticket for 25 minutes of open bar in the ice. They suited you up with a parka and gloves and then opened up the big freezer door. Inside the whole place was made of ice. Ice walls, ice sculptures, ice chairs and benches, an ice bar and even the glasses were made of ice. We had a great time in the freezing cold taking pictures and trying some local drinks that the barman fixed for us.
We returned to the hostel and finished our meat from dinner the night before. Wendy flew to Bariloche but I think we will meet there too. And its looking like Ill get to meet up with Trina from Sucre on the way to Bariloche as well! Epic!
Oh and that night my hostel had an excellent asado for the guests! Yum.
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