It wasn't too long after conquering Cerro Torre did my legs start tightening and buckling on me... I was hardly able to walk. I was pretty sure this would wear off in time for the Fitz Roy hike. I've been warned many times of how strenuous this hike is. It's estimated at 4 hours each way... with a "tough" final hour up a steep hill. Well, what's one more hour than what I did at Cerro Torre?
Patagonia got off to yet another strong start early on in the hike. I was huffy and weazy, until it finally got more level and we found ourselves in the middle of stunning nature again. This time, the hikers are Me from LA, Isabella from Italy, Katherine from US, and Maria from Ireland. We are all solo female travelers and we are all awesome.
The hours pass, and we're finally faced with the final climb up the mountain. Holy shit. You guys. I've never, in my life, ever, ever, eva eva? EVER done anything more difficult than this. Now, blame it on never exercising, blame it on never really "hiking" much, blame it on the sinus head cold i'm developing, blame it on something, but this was SO HARD, and I could NOT keep up with the other fab ladies. But it's ok, I needed to do this on my own. I talked to myself. I wimpered. I gasped. I looked up to see how much further I had to go, and then I cried. I quit. Then I started again. I kept going. I finally reached the top, then realized, I hadn't actually reached the top. So I kept going. Then, it was finally over, and the view was just breathtaking. I'm at the base of Fitz Roy, at Laguna De Los Tres, surrounded by glaciers and mountains. I looked behind me to see what I conquered, and I cried like a baby. Just for a little bit. Then I inhaled my sandwich and a half, and really soaked it all in. There was a little more I could have gone downhill, but that meant I would have had to come back up it... I had absolutely no life left in my legs, and I still had 4 more hours back to the base to go.
This was physically and emotionally grueling. But I did it. And therefore, I win the final round in the battle vs. Patagonia. And I rule.
The stats:
Laguna Torre (1st hike): 3 hours one way, 250 meters high, 11KM
Laguna De Los Tres (2nd hike to Fitz Roy): 4 hours one way, 750 meters high, 12.5 KM.
Click here for more Fitz Roy goodness
No comments:
Post a Comment