El Calafate and Torres Del Paine

Hi all, Life here is cold, cold, and cold some more with some strong winds thrown in. I've decided that the pain sustained in Ushuaia was not enough, and put myself through more hell and hiked yet another mountain in Torres Del Paine (maybe they intended the last part of the name to be a pun?) which after conquering it in 3 hours and much hurt, I'm feeling it today. All up, I'd rate the hike a medium which was taxing on the body, bhut we were lucky with the weather, and the cold wasn't too bad and the wind was almost non'existent. So in saying that, it was still no Ushuaia with it's winds and cold and Ushuaia still deserved every bit of the hard rating it was given. Also I checked with the guys I hiked with and it turns out we did it in 3 hours, not 4 as I thought, making for 4 and a half hours total time, not bad. Once again, Torres Del Paine, was nothing short of spectacular with the views of the 3 towers of rock that we were really close to and the ice pack in the upper ridges, was amazing. Waterfalls and rapids, with rock faces to pull yourself up via rope, it's nuts to think you won't stay (are get back to being) fit with some of the day trips I've been lining up. But, now I've moved on and have left Chile (temporarily) and am back in Argentina in El Calafate which is a little town in the middle of nowhere and am about to get a bite to eat as I'm starving. When I wasn't hiking, I went fishing in some of the windiest spots I've ever been, as it literally picked me up off the ground in parts and I was clasping onto ridge walls as not to get blown into a place I didn't wanto be, but it was an unusually windy day the locals told me. Tomorrow is a visit to a large glacier known as the Marino Glacier that has bits falling off it all the time, so it should be quite a show with a trk involved. Not long after this is another trek up a volcano, so I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes, I'm told it's harder than Torres Del Paine, so ummm yeah looking forward to more paine the next day, but the views are worth it :-) Then soon it'll be back into Chile when we arrive in Santiago. Hope, all is well in sunny Brisbane, I'll have to make this a quick on for today, but I'll be back in touch before y'all know it. Mum, thanks for the info, but I wouldn't consider me much of a bushie considering some of the nutcases I'm with :-) Sam, how's it all coming along with you, hope Steve and Bobbie are well. Tam, hope you, Martin and Madeleine are well, thinking of you lots. Dad, how's tricks, it's all go go go, but depending on time, I'll give a call in the next 3 to 4 days. Also, Rob, Kris or anyone, do you know of a site on the net that resizes your pictures as a free service, mine are too big to send around. Any help is much appreciated. Kris, the pose was for you mate :-) Frame them, put them in a locked cabinet for excactly 1 year, and look at them again... they will change your life!!! Brie, it sounds like you've got a bit on AS ALWAYS! :-) But being busy is better than doing nothing at all, well sometimes. I hope you have a fun time up in Rocky, I know it's been a few years since I was up that way. Mike, that TAFE course is the way to go mate, cos I think travel is for those way too ambitious for my liking and sitting around really is the way to get things done :-) How's work with Liz? How was the going away party? Looking forward to seeing some pics mate. Irasema, love those pics, when were they taken? It's been a few years since I was at the Whitsundays and it's a top spot. So, where's the next destination? Muddler, how's it going with lifes little challenges? Got those Ny plane tickets booked? I've got a personal tour organised with some folks I'm travelling with now and a few other activities lined up, I know that week in September will be one to remember mate, how bout some tickets to Dave Letterman! Take it easy guys, Adios! Adam

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