Crossing the Paso del Viento and seeing part of the southern ice sheet for the first time, stretching out into the distance. We all had open-mouthed smiles as its vastness sank in.
Dawn at Lago Toro, standing alone as the sky assumed a perfect azure and golden clouds were stirred by mountain winds. You forget just how wonderful the colour of the sky is until you get moments like that.
Mount Fitzroy glowing in the predawn with Venus and Mercury bright above the mountains opposite.
The vast open patagonian steppe with huge horizons and dazzling skies.
Walking on glaciers, ice climbing, canoeing, tyrolean traveres, horseriding. Good company.
This is a brilliant expedition. Expect lots of walking, even our rest day involved a 7 hour walk (at our request and one of the group made an ascent of the challenging Cerro Huemul with Christian) but it's at a steady pace. The terrain is largely easy, by UK mountain standards, but there were some exposed sections of scree, a few spots of scrambling and some long ups and downs.
Expect all weathers (we were lucky with only one half day of rain and one half day of drizzle that fell as snow once we were on the tops).
Make sure your hat will stay put in a gale. Bring wrap around sunglasses. Don't forget extra memory for camera and battery charger. A polarizing filter for your camera helps bring out the rich colour of the sky (and everything else). A good travel towel and thick thermarest make you feel pampered.
Be prepared for a few days living out of a smallish drysack - that capacity includes your sleeping bag and your sleeping mat as well as everything else you'll want for a few days. You'll have your day sack too.
I took a large Camelbac bag to keep me hydrated (plus 0.5l bottle) but everyone else managed with just bottles which are easier to fill from streams but more difficult to access on the hoof. The water was lovely.
The food is generally fantastic if you are a carnivore and even as a veggie I was very well catered for by the Fitzroy team - the meat eaters often looked with envy at my plate.
Be prepared for basic camp facilities at some sites. At others, be prepared for a pleasant surprise.
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