Torres del Paine - Welcome Center

At the southern end of Chile on the continent of South America is the exquisitely pristine mountainous terrain of Torres del Paine National Park. Established in 1959, the park is filled with tall peaks, ample glaciers, turquoise lakes, rivers, plenty of wildlife and hundreds of species of flora. In 1978 the park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The name Torres del Paine translates as The Blue Towers, and it refers to the three famed granite towers that the park is named after. Located within the Paine Massif (aka Cordillera del Paine), The Towers are amongst a dozen or so other significant peaks within the mountain formation ranging from 6,560ft (2,000m) to 9,462ft (2,884m) in elevation.

The park and its two major trekking circuits are very popular with hikers. The "W Circuit" is the shorter route that as the name suggests travels in a "W" shape through two of the four valleys and beside Grey Lake close to Grey Glacier.

The "O Circuit" is a hiking trail around the entire massif, past several lakes, rivers and glaciers. The circuit was pioneered in 1976 by John Gardner with two local rangers when they successfully circumnavigated the massif. This is the journey I will be undertaking.

Beginning at the Welcome Center on the southeast corner of the massif, my journey will be heading anticlockwise, hiking north on the east side of the mountain. Following the river to Los Perros Glacier, I climb over John Gardner Pass and cross several suspension bridges. Once beside Grey Glacier, I will keep skirting around the mountain alongside Grey Lake on the westside, then Nordernskjold Lake on the southside and finish back where I started.

I anticipate gusty winds, shifting weather patterns and some tough trekking sections. Whilst I'll be happy to see a herd of guanacos on my travels, any puma sightings would be preferred from a distance.



Time to hit the trail.



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