PATAGONIA

I just got back from a 5-day backpacking trip in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia.  I went with 3 other girls from my program, Kelly, Allie, and Becca.  Not only were we the only group of all girls backpacking the trail, but we were also the youngest ones we encountered.  When we got back to Santiago our entire program was SO surprised that we'd survived... the W-Trail (the trail we'd backpacked) had absolutely no faith that we'd be able to fend for ourselves for a week.  The fact that I could come back to Santiago alive and well to tell the tale of the first group of our program to backpack the W made me feel so accomplished.  

It was an amazing trip!  Unfortunately, though, my camera was stolen by the airport.  After what seemed like years of intense arguing, the airlines offered me US$50 as compensation.  I was so mad and frustrated, especially because they told me that it was my fault for keeping my camera in my checked bag.  I know it wasn't the best idea to keep it there, but maybe I just had blind hope that my valuables wouldn't be stolen by the airline.  To top it off, though, the jerk also stole my 3 Snickers bars I had bought for about $2 each for the trail!  

It would be hard, though, to describe everything that we'd done that week... so much intense backpacking, gross amounts of food, and amazing scenery to describe.  I will, however, post as many pictures as Blogspot will allow:

Making our way into the park:

At the start of the W:

Day 2: The torres of Torres del Paine.  We saw the sunset up there and the torres turned red:

That was also the day of our 12-hour hiking adventure:

Day 3: Hiking in Valle de Frances.  At the top we had a 360 degree view of the lake, the back of the torres, and the entire valley we'd just scaled.  I could've stayed up there forever. :

Days 4 and 5: backpacking to Grey Glacier. :

The weather was amazing and I hiked in t-shirts and shorts the whole time.  I couldn't believe when I had to come back to Santiago to go back to school and live in the congested city!