We've Got One Last Day......Going to the Gray

With the towers out of the way, the last part of the "W" hike left to complete was Gray Glacier........there are a number of ways to get to the glacier, or at least get a great view of it, and for days, we heard stories of cancelled trips, screwed up hikes, etc., and we didn't know what would happen when we booked the glacier for this morning.  We planned to do the easiest thing of the trip for our last day in the park, and drive over to the end of Lago Gray, get on the boat owned by Lago Gray Hotel, and cruise the length of the lake to get up close and personal with the wall of ice which is Gray Glacier, and an arm of the Patagonian Ice Field, the third largest such field in the world.  OK, so guess what.......too fu+*^#g windy.........this has been a problem all week with this boat not sailing because of wind.  So, our 45 minute drive to Lago Gray Hotel was a waste of time, but we thought we could get back to our hotel in time to tag onto the Gray Glacier hike scheduled for 10am departure.........made it.......and we were on our way.

View from Lago Gray Hotel looking all the way downlake at the glacier.

Plenty of gear on the transport over to start our hike

Kika......guide for the day.......eyes on the trail Hugh......eyes on the trail
Camping option at the end of Lago Peohe.......our starting point
The hike to the glacier where it meets the lake is 12km from the boat drop off, but the program requires you call the boat at Lago Gray Hotel after 6km (at the lookout) to see if they are running, and will pick you up.  We already knew the boat wasn't running so it was going to be 6km in and 6km back out.
First view of ice in the lake.......that colour is not photoshopped......never seen such blue


Jutta getting in the picture........guess what......its windy

So we reach this sign......6km into the hike.......Jutta leading......Hugh a distant second........Jutta keeps walking.......WTF..........running, chasing........if it were not for a narrow part of the trail on a cliffside that Jutta didn't know if I would pass, she might have kept going.............no worries, turned around and made it back to the overlook with the rest of the crew.

Pictures  don't do this justice

This was as windy as we have experienced........Jutta is wedging her poles into the rock to stay upright for the photo





We had some visitors for lunch


One last look before we go........."W" completed

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