Some friends may remember that my first trip around the world on the Ocean Explorer in 1999 was designed to take advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime Millennium changeover to the year 2000. As part of that four-and-a-half month expedition, my itinerary called for spending the Millennium week starting January 1, 2000 in Chile. This was fine with me, but I especially wished to be with family when that special millennium moment arrived, so I invited my son Steve and his girlfriend Christina to join me in Chile.
I planned a great adventure. We would spend a week together exploring Torres del Paine National Park, one of the last true wilderness regions at the bottom of the world.
Certainly, this is not everyone's dream destination, but it was my stubborn dream at that time. I wanted more than anything to gaze at the giant slabs of needle-like mountains called Los Cuernos (the horns) when the world welcomed the new Millennium. What a great moment that would be, made especially memorable with one of my children at my side.
That was my intention. By now, you must have guessed my disappointment when I couldn't quite make it there!
Despite many attempts to contact hosterias in Torres during the year before I left, not one replied to my request for a reservation. Hugely disappointed, I finally gave up and settled for an acceptable alternative---a little cabin near PuertoVaras in northern Patagonia's Lake District. Ultimately, Steve, Christina and I spent a wonderful Millennium week there exploring volcanoes, lakes, and small villages surrounding Lago Llanquihue.
However, you might imagine my serious case of envy when I learned that after leaving me, Steve and Christina, backpacked on to southern Patagonia and completed the classic eight-day Circuit Hike around the Torres del Paine mountains. Of course, I felt happy for them. But my desire lingered to someday make it there myself.
A long explanation.
But now I can say---Been there. Done that, (or as my friend TravelJean says, "Check that off your list!").
I've just returned from one of my most unforgettable journeys ever. My memories include viewing a kaleidoscope of stunning vistasæ´‹assive glaciers, blue-tinted icebergs drifting in glassy blue fjords, wind-swept turquoise lakes, and cascading waterfalls tumbling down from the slopes of the southern end of the snow-covered Andes Mountains.
Best of all, my son Doug and his girlfriend Kelly joined me for a few days on this great adventure. In fact, they decided to do the same eight-day circuit trek around Torres del Paine that Doug's older brother Steve had accomplished six years before. They planned it perfectly: they would try to complete the circuit trek just in time to greet me. And they did! What could be a more fitting ending to my memorable expedition to the bottom of the world!
[Go to Patagonia Part Three]
