Torres del Paine Park in the wind

Several hundred kilometers of track above, we enter the National Park Torres del Paine. We have over waiting times at different border points. The boundaries, rather absurd, reflects the small territorial endless squabbles between the Governments of Argentina and Chile.

This beautiful park of 181,000 hectares is a must for hikers, with shelters and campgrounds throughout the two main circuits, the loop "bread" and "w" (4-8 days). Our intentions are more modest, fortunately, because we are greeted by gusts of wind to discourage the most experienced hikers. Bent double, even when we reach Lago Grey, which offers a range of beautiful colors, with blue icebergs, and a turquoise sky in a tortured. Initially Lake Nordenskjöld, much more welcoming as its name, a ride of one hour only offers a magnificent view of the Torres. Easy on a calm day, it becomes sport with gusts over 100 km / h. Stung by the icy wind, we calfeutrons the best in our trailer, with a compassionate thought for campers in their tents.

Rest assured, the 200,000 tourists who visit each year to Torres are not all to be pitied, considering the number of luxury hotels that bloom in the park. The wind strength and our sleepless nights, so we decided to break camp, leaving to others the "hiker's paradise" (sic). A little disappointed though, we give ourselves one more chance ... and miraculously, the wind dies down on the shore of Lago Azul where you can admire the flower bird of Patagonia ... Again, we took a certain amount of patience and tenacity to take advantage of Torres del Paine !