Our shortest day on the W, you'd think it would be the easiest. I disagree wholeheartedly.
My brain had already fooled me into thinking it was going to be a breeze. Only 11km to travel and barely any ascents. Today was all about cruising along, taking our time, and enjoying the scenery.
Our hiking crew set off at the respectable time of 9:30. From now on, we'd be on our own, no guides. But, it wouldn't matter as the paths were clearly marked, and you couldn't get too far lost. Throughout the day, we'd traverse the base of the towering peaks and have beautiful lakeside views on our left. Many condors hung out, gliding effortlessly as we struggled with our now full packs below.
A definite drop in foot traffic on this section of the track compared to yesterday... many must only do day hikes at either end of the W.
A special moment came mid-morning as we followed the track through some thick growth. A hooting, tooting owlet stared straight at our oncoming party. We calmly took our photos and let it be. So cool to see such splendid nocturnal beauty in the middle of the day.
For a good chunk of the day, I spent at the back, falling behind taking a few snaps. To be honest, my legs were sluggish, and my mood paralleled this. Rather than get snappy, I just kept myself company, doing what I like most.
Late in the afternoon, one of three groups within our extended hiking crew made it to their evening's lodging (all at different spots tonight), so naturally, we stopped for a beer before chugging on the final few kilometers. This beer tasted good, but not quite as good as the next. Ana and I found the most spectacular viewpoint to crack open a second Patagonian ale. A perfect end to a tough slog.
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