2016 Torres del Paine program

erratic rock
patagonia
Torres del Paine National Park
Expedition Primer
Nov 6-11, 2016
Description:
7 days / 6 nights trekking
Tent camping
Difficulty: demanding
Pack weight: 12 kilos
Cost (clp):
6-10: 1050.000
10-20: 980.000
Program overview
Patagonia is a remarkable place to experience the outdoors. Our programs are
challenging, mentally and physically, and focus on learning through doing. Students must
be able to carry a backpack weight of 12 kilos and walk for up to 6 hours per day. This
classic Patagonian trek focuses on physical fitness, self sufficiency, outdoor skills and
equipment management. During this program we will be emphasizing Leave No Trace
skills and learning respect for the outdoors and the National Park.
The Classic ‘W’ trek
This trek is named after its trail system that navigates up and down out of the mountain
valleys. This treks holds all the views that makes this national park world famous. Torres
del Paine is an amazing and immense park, and the ‘W’ trek brings you to all of the park
highlights - Glacier Grey, Paine Grande, Cuernos, Valle Frances and the three famous
towers of Paine.
Teams
Mini-teams will be created of 3-5 students, a guide and a porter. These teams will move
through the park supporting each other directly. With personal instruction and supervision
by the guides, the students will be assigned a certain leadership position within the
group for the week. These skills will be developed throughout each day and shared
and discussed with the entire group each evening. Each evening all students will gather
for group discussions, games and demonstrations. These evening discussions cover
topics such as native culture, glaciology, flora/fauna, first aid & meal planning. The goal
of this program is for the students to finish the week with complete confidence in his or
her trekking ability and self sufficiency in the outdoors, as well as decision making and
leadership skills.
Tour includes:
• guides / porters
• all meals in the field
• lodging in town before and after the program
• satellite communication devices (Delorem InReach) & park radio
• tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, gore tex jackets, cookware & backpacks
• all transportation
• catamaran
• entrance, camping & park fees
• all logistics
• first aid kits
Not included:
• flights to / from Puerto Natales
• personal camping and trekking gear (boots, clothing, hat, gloves, headlamp)
• travel insurance
Itinerary & details:
Day 1 (Nov 6): The program starts in Punta Arenas when the team arrives at the Punta Arenas
airport were we then transfer to Puerto Natales in private vans and head to our lodging where
we will be staying before and after the program.
There will be team meeting and gear check at Erratic Rock Base Camp at 6pm. Students will
meet their guides and assistants, learn the importance of a well packed and properly loaded
backpacks and check equipment & tents as well. Here we break into our teams for the week.
We end the evening with one last group dinner and go over any other questions anyone might
have. (D)
Day 2 (Nov 7): First thing in the morning private transportation takes us to Torres del Paine
National Park and watch for typical animals of Patagonia such as Guanacos, condors and
Ñandus. We enter the park and mid-day we cross Lago Pehoe by catamaran with an amazing
view of the massif. We disembark at Pehoe and trek our first stretch to campamento Grey. We
top out on a beautiful viewpoint which offers one of the best views of the Southern Patagonia
Ice Field. There are only a few places from a normal trekking trail where the Ice Field can be
seen, this is one of those places. We camp this night near to the Glacier Grey view point.
(duration: 4 hours - B, L, D)
Day 3 (Nov 8): Today we wake, break down camp and head West, passing Lago Skottsberg,
to Campamento Italiano. Italiano is a magnificent camp area and we camp next to a beautiful
river, protected nicely by a forest of old Lenga trees. We have some free time on this day, so
we head up into the Valle Frances and take in some breathtaking views.
(duration: 6 hours - B, L, D)
Day 4 (Nov 9): This morning, we leave everything behind and we only pack up our backpacks
and head up into Valle Frances. It’s a steep hike, and we spend most of the day trekking up
the valley, witnessing thundering ice falls from Paine Grande (3050m) from one side and the
Cuernos towering over us on the other. The valley offers natural lookouts; ice falls, avalanches,
condors... impressive. A true highlight of Torres del Paine National Park. And after a day
exploring Valle Frances, we head down again and pack up our camp and progress another two
hours to Refugio Los Cuernos. We sleep that night under the famous ‘horns’, on the edge of
Lago Nordenskjold.
(duration: 7 hours - B, L, D)
Day 5 (Nov 10): After a big breakfast we take on our longest day yet. Our trek takes us around
the base of Mount Almirante Nieto (2640m), up into Valle Asencio, to our camp at Campamento
Las Torres. This is a long day and we take many breaks for view points and photo stops.
Our day starts fairly mild with only slight elevation gain, but as the day progresses our pace
becomes slow and steady to climb into the upper valley. As we enter the valley we head into a
thick Lenga forest which protects us from possible harsh winds. We make our camp that night
at Campemento Las Torres under the protection of the forest canopy.
(duration: 8 hours - B, L, D)
Day 6 (Nov 11): On this day we get the chance to enjoy one of the main highlights of the
program, the famous Towers lookout trek. This is our big chance to see the three famous
Towers of Paine (2800m). We again leave our camp behind early, and only bring our packs
loaded with our warm layers. We head up the steep trail for 1 hour to the Towers view point,
and some of the most amazing photos ever. Our goal is to arrive at the base of the towers
at the moment the sun breaks over the horizon and paints the towers bright red for only a
few precious moments. Our early mornings efforts are well rewarded by the views and a hot
breakfast in one of the most famous spots on earth. We later descend and catch our transfer
back to Puerto Natales. This is the official end of the program. Groups return to Puerto Natales
at 5pm on the final day.
(duration: 5 hours - B, L, D)
Day 7 (Nov 12): Transfer Puerto Natales to Punta Airport (B)
Erratic Rock Patagonia
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