Day 8 - Torres del Paine National Park

The first night in the shared room was far too short, and not just because of the planned hike. The lumberjack in the next room had his chainsaw taken away without further ado, but that didn't really help, and the alarm clock rang at 3:30 a.m. just for show. At least there was coffee, a small breakfast, and a packed lunch for the day. At 4:15 a.m. sharp, we headed out into the darkness. The wind was not too strong, and thanks to the layered look, the outside temperatures were bearable.

After a long climb, we went over the "Windy Pass", past a refugio (campground) and over various streams, rocks and bridges. The last few meters were a challenge for our bodies and our relationships - but of course it worked out and we were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Torres del Paine, the "towers of the blue sky". Only a few clouds were around the rocks and we were happy to be able to enjoy the great view. The sun even made a brief appearance, we devoured our lunch boxes and got ready for the way back. With ice-cold hands on the first few meters, we were now able to admire the entire extent of the valley in daylight.

Lots of people came towards us and we were glad that we had made the climb early in the morning to escape the crowds and the rain that had now started at higher altitudes.

It was only on the way back that we realized that behind the sign for the “Windy Pass”, in front of which we (tried to) pose for a photo in the dark, there was a steep slope of over 200m.

The last few meters were accompanied by bright sunshine and with heavy feet we arrived at the accommodation at midday.

We used the afternoon for a power nap and watched the soaking wet people streaming into the refuge.

At dinner, many people reported that their climb had unfortunately not been worth it and that the Torres were completely covered in clouds due to the snow. We fell into bed totally satisfied but dead tired, this time without any disturbance from the next room.