Straight to the Mighty Fitz Roy

On the way towards the incomparable Mount Fitz Roy (3,359 m (11,020 ft)), Patagonia, Argentina.

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The story: So on my bus ride towards El Chaltén, a small town of around 800 people (Only during the summer) I looked out the front of the bus and was just blown away by the mountain, dominating our entire field of vision ahead of us. At this point in my South American travels I had thankfully already seen many unique and beautiful mountains as I crossed the Andes. But this mountain was truly a different beast altogether, jagged, craggy and spiked like an ancient giant slumbering just ahead of me. What was also unmissable was the one and only two-lane road that lead straight towards it, and with it your eye. Unfortunately for me and everyone else on the bus we drove without stopping once till we arrived at the bus station inside El Chaltén and dramatically closer to the Fitz Roy itself.

With four days in El Chaltén spent through Christmas, I knew I had the time to get the photo that was now etched into my mind, I just had to plan my days properly since I also wanted to do a lot of hiking while I was there. With a few days of 20+ kms of walking before me it made sense to do a warm up by hiking as far away from El Chaltén as I could to replicate the distance I was before. Thankfully the weather was nearly perfect and I set out under a beautiful sun and a light breeze, walking for around 2.5 hours or so outside of the town before I was able to get the shot I had in my mind and what you see above.

The reason you visit El Chaltén is to see this magnificent mountain firsthand, as well as the many other beautiful mountains that inhabit the landscape. The hikes are some of the best I've ever had minus the annoying giant flies that were driving me mad. Beautiful nature, and clean glacial water you can drink directly from! Gotta love the simple things.

Thanks too all for those who have favourited and viewed this!

Taken from my journey through South America Oct. 2011 - Jan. 2012

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From Argentina