Lago Argentino, Argentina - Polarsteps

After nervously checking the weather for a view days we finally got our perfect weather window for a new adventure: the Huemul-track🥾. It takes 4 days to finish and is left out of the local maps. This because the park office prefered the path not to be known by everyone😶‍🌫️. Which is reasonable because the path consists of two terrific wild water river crossings🌊, an infamous pass with the name passo del viento (pass of the wind🌬️), some gletsjer traversing❄️ and a very very steep slope downhill with ropes⛰️. We even had to hire a climbing harness for those river crossings and knew that at least day 2+3 needs to be done in good weather🌞. Well you might guess that all that information made us a little nervous 🫡(as well as our parents😵‍💫). But it was all worth it! 🤩 It was only at the second day when we stood on top of the passo that we realised why we're doing this! Breathtaking views of the third biggest ice field in the world🏔️. Only both poles are larger. Standing there, the inhospitable wind blew us away. We really had to brace ourselves everytime some gust of wind was approaching. Laying in our warm, sheltered tent, we realized we have never been this far away from civilization ⛺🏞️. The designated campspot provided nothing, not even toilets. But because we woke up early every day we had first pick at every spot, in this way waking up early really paid itself 👍. At the time we were already washed, chilled some time, cooked and finished our dinner and brushing our teeth, still people came in. Well we don't envy them! On the last day the second river crossing was on the program, this is where Frank was the hero of the day!🦸 The pulley that should make it all easier was hanging on the other side with no safety cord on it. So Frank used his arms and pulled himself over the river and made it much easier for all the following folks! 🥳

Country Guides:

Argentina