A lone guanaco stands sentry on top of a hill.
Look closely and the dark spots can be identified as grasshoppers. We passed through miles of road where millions of them were hopping along the road and ground nearby. Made the road look polka-dotted. I hope they weren't locusts.
A blurry closeup of the grasshopper.
A giant metal fish sculpture at an intersection. The only other thing here was a trash can. It may be meant to represent the trout that can be found in the lakes and rivers in the area.
A view of the Lake Viedma as we drove over the hill. The water is a gorgeous aqua color.
The highest peak on the right is the famous Fitz Roy. The needle-like spire in the middle is Cerro Chalten, a couple of the well-known peaks here in Patagonia. El Chalten is a trekkers paradise.
More peaks visible from El Chalten. We were surrounded by snowcapped mountains in Patagonia.
A stunning view as we drove near on the highway.
Big looming Fitz Roy is a destination for the hardy hikers.
The view just keeps getting better as we get closer....
We're deep into Spring and there is still plenty of snow here.
The entrance to The Glaciers National Park near El Chalten in Patagonia in Argentina.
Late afternoon sun on the snow of the peaks.
I was surprised at how sharp the peaks still are. I was used to the rounded Rocky Mountains of the US.
Jason at the mirador at the entrance to the Glaciers Natl Park.
The view changed quickly here with the light and winds and weather. But it was always stunning.
The park allocated a space across from the visitor info center where mobile homes can park for free in El Chalten. Jason is enjoying a rest on the side of YOLO where we stayed for a few days. Can't complain about the view or the price.
A rock wall acts as a wind break for this little building on the park grounds.
Some fire bush just starting to bloom on one of our hikes up the hills.
Jason had to sit down to prevent being blown of the hilltop on our hike to this mirador of the condors.
The view from up on the hill, looking toward El Chalten. The peaks are hidden by clouds blowing in.
You can see the weather coming in now.
The fire bush turning the hillside red where it blooms.
At the end of the hike to the mirador for the eagles is this view back out the valley away from El Chalten. Looking up the valley towards Lake Viedma. It's fed by one of the largest glaciers here.
Lake Viedma from the mirador. There were actually icebergs in the lake here.
Another view from the mirador/overlook at the end of the hike. We're pretty high up here and we saw condors soaring around us.
Hiking back down the trail from the eagle overlook.
The wind was howling as we hiked and I had to pull my neck warmer up over my hat to keep it from blowing off my head, even after I'd tightened the strap. If it blew off, I'd never see it again.
A little river ran through the grassy area next to the hiking trail.
So many feet have hiked the trail that it is now a foot deep in the soil. Looking towards El Chalten.
Welcome to El Chalten.
A metal condor sculpture at the bus terminal in El Chalten.
The weather clouds dusted a bit more snow onto the peaks overnight. Our view from YOLO.
Motorhomes weren't allowed on the road beyond El Chalten so we parked and walked up to this waterfall, Chorillo del Salto. A nice single flow that fed into a river that flowed past town. That's Jason in the camo hoodie.
Chorillo del Salto in El Chalten.
Jason at Chorillo del Salto waterfall.
A Garancho, a big bird that we saw a lot.
Mountain climbers flock to this area, too. We watched groups climb up and down the face of rock across the river while we were here.
Jason and I drove to Bahia Tunnel hoping to park along the lake for the night. Rangers said it was only for day use so we walked along the beach for some exercise and had lunch before returning to El Chalten.
Huge chunks of petrified wood were scattered along the beach.
Jason crossing a log bridge over a creek along our hike.
Pretty white flowers that faded into purple in patches. Pretty against the green and grey of the rocky roadside.
More Patagonia peaks. They're everywhere here.
I think Michigan must've sent Argentina their extra deer crossing signs. We've never seen an animal here that looks like this antlered figure.
The clouds roil behind the peaks. Sometimes they make it over and we get rain or snow; other times they just stay there until they disappear. It's interesting to watch the changes here.
A giant ice field on one of the peaks.
Jason's going on a hike into these hills.
Jason's view on his hike.
Local protesters were burning tires in the lane of traffic that they'd blockaded at one end of the only bridge into town. Something about some family lands and the park, but we didn't ever get the whole story about what was being protested. Billowing black smoke from burning rubber doesn't get my sympathy for any cause. The next day, they had both lanes of the road blocked off and vehicles had to drive on the sidewalk and swerve back sharply to make it onto the bridge. The Police were standing by but doing nothing to interfere with the traffic blockage or burning rubber pollution. They were awaiting instructions from their supervisor.
A cute railing at a bar in El Chalten.
We saw some of these strong wind warning signs along the road, as well as the Huemul warning signs. Strong winds we got, never saw the huemul.
The mess being left by the protesters and their burning tire debris.
Two big beefy (pun intended) guys carried this side of beef into the grocery store meat locker on their shoulders to hang for the butcher to cut up.
Across the Rio de las Vueltas via a plank bridge, this is the view back towards town. Our van is parked around the bend on the other side of the river.
Yes, the water in this lake really is that deep aqua color! We parked alongside this Lago Argentino for a night.
Karen at the lakeside of Lago Argentino.
Lots of pretty rocks and petrified wood on the stony beach.
Another chunk of petrified wood. It's so heavy.
What a pleasant view, and we had the place all to ourselves.
Lago Argentino from our parking spot.
Some of my more interesting rock finds. I left them behind, though.
Snow covered mountains make a nice majestic backdrop for the lake view.
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