The plan is in black, what actually happened is shown in blue.
March 3 Bus to start of Paine trek at Guarderia Laguna Amarga. Walk to Puesto Seron 5 hrs.
As planned.
March 4 To Los Perros 10 hrs.
As planned.
March 5 To Refugio Grey 9 hrs.
Took 10 hours.
March 6 Launch to Hosteria Lago Grey (assuming this runs early enough!) Return walk to Mirador Zapata 12 hrs. Camp at Hosteria Lago Grey. If we don't manage to fit it in today then we might do it after the Paine circuit, but it would require more transport.
We cut out this walk, as the launch comes at 1 pm. Instead, we did a half day walk to Paine Grande, with a side-trip to the mirador.
March 7 Launch back to Refugio Grey. Walk to Campamento Italiano (no food here) 6 hrs.
March 8 Side trip to Campamento Britanico and the mirador (lookout), then back to Campamento Italiano 7 hrs return.
Walked from Paine Grande to the mirador and beyond, then to Campamento Italiano and on to the Cuernos Refuge. This was a tough 10 hour day.
March 9 To Albergue el Chileno (8 hrs) or maybe Campamento Torres/Japones (both without food).
Did Cuernos to Campamento Torres plus one mirador.
March 10 To the two Paine miradors (end of Valle del Silencio) and back to el Chileno. This is about 12 hours but we can turn back earlier if time looks like running out (or use head torches).
We walked from Campamento Torres to the end of the Valle del Silencio and back to El Chileno.
March 11 To Hosteria las Torres 2 1/2 hrs, from where we get a bus to Puerto Natales.
El Chileno to Puerto Natales.
March 12 Bus from Puerto Natales to El Calafate and bus on to El Chalten. Book return bus to Punta Arenas for Les on arrival at El Chalten.
From Puerto Natales by bus to El Chalten.
March 13 El Chalten to Campamento Poincenot, with 3 short side trips to the lakes Capri, Sucia and Tres. Climb Cerro Madsen 1806m.
El Chalten to Campamento Poincenot, lakes Capri and Tres. Climb of Cerro Madsen.
March 14 Campamento Poincenot to Refugio los Troncos, which hires beds and tents. Hot shower and get dinner cooked for us! Return walk to Paso del Cuadrado at 1700m and climb Cerro Electrico 2257m (not to be confused with Cerro Electrico Oeste). This is a long day.
Campamento Poincenot to Piedras Blancas Glacier and on to Los Troncos.
March 15 Go as far west as we can, possibly reaching Paso Marconi and then return to Refugio los Troncos. Only if weather is OK.
Los Troncos to Paso del Cuadrado and back.
March 16 Short side trip to Laguna Piedras Blancas then on to camp at Campamento de Agostini. Return walk to Mirador Maestri.
Los Troncos to El Chalten.
March 17 From Campamento de Agostini back to El Chalten. Then walk to Laguna Toro and on to Laguna Ferrari. Need a harness for river crossing?
El Chalten to Lago Toro.
March 18 Westward ho to Vivac de los Esquies and possibly further, right to the icecap. Return to Laguna Ferrari and then back to Laguna Toro.
Lago Toro to Paso del Viento and back.
March 19 Return to El Chalten and catch bus to El Calafate on the same day. Taqsa bus leaves at 6 pm.
Lago Toro to El Chalten
March 20 El Calafate bus to Punta Arenas for Les. Tad goes to Perito Moreno Glacier.
Perito Moreno glacier for both of us.
Tad Boniecki
August 2009