Preparing for the big trek

Trip Start Apr 05, 2008
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Trip End Mar 20, 2009

Flag of Chile  , Patagonia,
Friday, November 28, 2008

18 hours on a bus is never my idea of a fun filled day but that's what we had ahead of us. In fact by the time we reached Puerto Natales we would have been traveling for a total of 30 hours, our longest journey yet. Our friend Nikki had just arrived into Puerto Madryn so we met up for a coffee to catch up and yes hear about her travel plans around New Zealand in January. Whilst we were waiting for our bus to arrive we started talking to an English couple, Adam and Katie, whom we'd seen on our bus from Bariloche to Puerto Madryn. You guessed it, they're heading to New Zealand for 6 weeks in January too, incredible! The bus journey to Rio Gallegos passed by surprisingly quickly and comfortably so much so that it really didn't feel like we had been on the bus for 18 hours especially as we had about an hour to chill out in a bar along the way.
Puerto Natales was not what we had been expecting; a lot smaller and with a run down look about it but still managing to feel quaint and inviting. Think NZ circa 1970 where you could leave your car unlocked and your front door key in the door anytime of day or night with your valuables on full display and in easy grab and run reach. That and the buildings were all pretty basic and no-one has heard of lawn mowers or gardening. Our first night out in Puerto Natales was spent enjoying dinner and many vinos with our new found friends and it may well have been a record for the latest we've stayed up to date - good thing this bar didn't close till the sun started rising.
Our next day was spent learning about the 'W'. What is it that makes this Torres del Paine so renowned and a 'must do'. After attending an Erratic Rock briefing run by an American trekking enthusiast all was clear. We needed a tent, two sets of clothes and a PMA - positive mental attitude. This was to be a true test of my 48 hour camping rule - that is I will only camp for 48hours and not a second longer! After a planning session over dinner with Katie and Adam we were all sold on the five day trek surviving on dried fruit and three minute noodles and totally up for the challenge.
A mad day proceeded with organizing camping equipment, food and clothing. Who knew going camping was hard work! Usually we go with seasoned campers - AKA Sus and Frank who have everything sorted from the living room when the weather turns pants to the bbq and tables so we can enjoy life in a civilized manner - we usually then just arrive with tent, airbed and appropriate bedding! No it was the full shebang to useless mats that were almost as thin as cooking paper (please someone explain their purpose), to the 2 man ten that seriously is not long enough to fit one Gareth Taylor no matter what angle he lies on. But sucking it up and treating this as a big adventure we gathered our necessary tools and found ourselves still packing at 10pm at night (when was the last time this camping cooking equipment saw a dishwasher)! The one breather we had to our manic day (yes regardless of the fact it didn't kick start until 12pm) was meeting up with Kings and Ems for one last dinner together. The Hull's having just finished the infamous 'W' trek were glowing and a fountain of knowledge. It was great to see them and have a laugh one last time in South America over superb views of the lake and the infamous photograph of the broken pier with the sun setting over the bluest mountains you've ever seen.
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