Peaks, Condors, Ducks and Clear Skies

Another day, another slow pace: just 8km in 5 hours. But today, we have some pretty good excuses.

Our first detour was to the Mirador de Cóndores. After an hour of watching a playful group of Kestrels with no condors in sight, we were about to give up. Then, as if on cue, a lone condor passed right over our heads, no more than ten meters away. Kiersten definitely got some amazing shots.

We then hiked on to the Mirador de Águilas (Eagle's View). Guess what? No eagles. The fine view of the icebergs floating on distant Lago Viedma was some consolation, but we were starting to feel a little deflated about Argentine naming conventions.

Our spirits lifted when we dropped down to a small lake nestled in a dense Patagonian forest. Kiersten had a stroke of luck as two scarce Spectacled Ducks (Bronze-winged Ducks) swam past, completely oblivious to us. She also got good sightings of a Chilean Flicker. Her report will no doubt be filled with superlative photos.

The other main reason for our slow progress was the landscape itself. We were constantly stopping to stare in awe. A cloudless sky is a rare Patagonian phenomenon, and to see the iconic peaks of Cerro Torre and Mt. FitzRoy under clear blue skies provided one show-stopping moment after another.

This perfect weather has made us realize we need to go higher while we can. We have to take advantage of this window before the inevitable clouds and winds return. With the fine weather set to continue, this afternoon we'll pack for our first high-altitude adventure: an overnight bivouac on Loma del Pliegue Tumbado tomorrow. Stay tuned!