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So, hike number 2, to the viewpoint of Los Torres. G's legs were tender from yesterday when they were cramping, but we stocked up at breakfast and set off about 10 in beautiful sunshine. We were told it would take between 7 and 8 hours and was tough. They weren't lying!
After an hour we were struggling as it was uphill all the way - the 18kms from yesterday were being felt. Then we had a slow descent into a valley with a stop at a refugio for a drink and rest for 15mins. Then it was onwards and upwards! As yesterday, there was sun, wind and a bit of rain (it doesnt rain much here, my arse)!!! We were walking through a lovely wood though so got some shelter and weren't as hot as earlier. The pain was starting as we reached the sign saying 45mins to "La Mirador" - music to our ears. We also knew this was the toughest part of the trek but the sun was shining again so we were in pretty good spirits. The granite mountains we were hoping to see were shrouded in cloud but G was keeping hope alive and we'd come too far to turn back now. The weather is so changeable here, who knows what could happen in 45mins.
Now as you may know, or will be realising, rain has a habit of following me but what happened next took it to a new level! As we started our, what can only be described as a scramble up the rocks, it started raining, then as we got higher it turned to sleet and for the last 20mins it was snowing, by the time we got to the top it was a full on blizzard!! All we saw from the beauty spot was snow!!! Not a tower in sight!!! We had made it though which was an achievement in itself but the view I was so looking forward to seeing before we left England was nowhere to be seen. After 5 mins of standing freezing at the top, in utter shock and bewilderment we started heading down.
G told me later, that he had seen a mouse at the top to add insult to injury. Thankfully he withheld that information until later!
I think we were both in shock on the way back, not to mention pain, but we got back to the hotel and a well earned cerveza about 5:30 (sod the fact that a beer is almost a fiver!) Oh yeah and did I mention that this was all done with just a few cookies as the place we'd been told we could get a sandwich, didnt have any!
We both pretty much collapsed into bed after a quick sandwich before sleeping like logs. It was definitely one of the hardest things we have ever done physically.
The following morning the sun was out again,grrr! G could barely walk so I went on a search for a view of the Torres (but without the trek)! Saw 2 but there is no way of seeing the three of them apart from at the viewpoint. We left at 2pm, a similar time to the blizzard experience 24hours earlier, and a backward glance of the Torres area, showed brilliant sunshine - b******s! The achievement of yesterday has turned to disappointment today. Oh well you cant have everything in life.
We headed to Puerto Natales on a bus full of very weary walkers. Sad to leave such a beautiful remote place but definitely feeling a few lbs lighter!
Have one night in a lovely hotel, Weskar Lodge, to recuperate, before a day of travelling up to the lake district tomorrow.
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