French Valley to the Plato (Plateau) Don't you Know

All of our days will now be consumed with activities, mostly hikes, with some horseback riding thrown in for good measure.  Some are full day excursions where we pack a lunch and eat on the hill, while others are broken up into half days, with fantastic lunches in the hotel.  Hotel life at Explora Patagonia just repeats itself every day........meals are great, and always a full three courses........the bartenders have me hooked on melon margaritas, and I will be making some for you when we return home.........the service is spot on...............our guides have been terrific, and the gaucho's who handle the horses wonderful also.  

Before we arrived here we knew that there was a route known as the "W", which included three big hikes with camping in between, and the route took basically 5 days to complete.  We are obviously not camping, but we plan to complete all the hikes, travelling to base starting points from our hotel, and today, our first day, we are taking on the French Valley, with the extension up to the plateau, a 2km add on with some steep sections, apparently separating the men from the boys, but the enhanced views and scenery are worth every step.

Our day starts with a van ride to a boat ride, then across the end of Lake Peohe to our starting point.  


Powered catamaran that is our transportation across the lake
Lower stages through burned out forest
There was a devastating forest fire in this area in 2011, so while much of the lower level vegetation has returned in full force, the trees remain scarred and essentially dead to this day.  Reforestation efforts are underway, but it will be many more years until this land looks as it did in 2010.

Water keeps on flowing down from the glaciers/snowpack
Lower level glacier visible from the trail

Long range view......thats where we are headed

Lake on the way


Never forget to turn around in Patagonia........amazing view as we gain altitude


This is the turnaround spot for those not electing to go to the plateau.......I will not comment further, respecting the heritage of my good friends Antonio and Francesco


Looking at this view, it is hard to comprehend what we see from the hotel, but will try to create an explanation for you



This is the spot 
OK, so here we are, sitting on a rock plateau, looking over, and up, to a valley of glaciers, listening to them crack, squeak, and groan, before shedding off layers with thunderous definition...........we would hear it a few seconds after it happened, so you would hear the thunder, then look to see what caused it.......in this photo you can see the upper, hanging glacier, the mid, collection phase, and the lower, covered in dirt valley section..........all amazing.......all moving.........

Mommy is happy because we just checked another box, and also because she just loves it here in Patagonia 



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