Michelle's Chile Trek 2002
The pictures on this page are used with the kind permission of David Head (Chile Trekker 2001), who has been extremely helpful. Check out his webpage, which inspired me to sign up: I will hopefully replace these will pictures of my own on my return, together with a more detailed account of each day went - Day 1 will NOT be - got locked in the loo at Heathrow and missed the plane (long story...)
The poster on that fateful, seemingly ordinary Sunday at the beginning of July 2001, leapt out at me and shouted:
'The Chile Trek in aid of Mencap - March 2002'
'Come and join us on an 11 day trek of a lifetime. You will be trekking amongst a wonderland of glacial lakes, towering snow covered peaks and rolling valleys in the Torres del Paine National Park in Southern Chile.'
It went into more detail and gave the number to call for an information pack and I checked out the Mencap website on my return home (you can do the same following the link below).
On eagerly devouring the info on the site, where I reassuringly discovered that the trek was going into its 3rd year and they were running 2 treks in 2002: 3rd-14th & 17th-28th of March. I followed the link to a website of a participant of the 2001 trek - David Head. He had gone into more detail and had more info on how he fundraised - the scary bit.
I rang up for the pack and on its arrival, poured over every point and promptly went with my initial gut feeling and signed up.
The itinerary of the trek:
Day 1 (17th March)
London to Santiago - an overnight flight
Day 2 (18th March)
Santiago - a morning reception and debrief. The afternoon is free to explore the city.
Day 3 (19th March)
Santiago to Punta Arenas. A 4-5 hour internal flight.
Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park (approx. 5 hour minibus journey).
Camp overnight along the banks of the secluded Serrano River.
| Day 4 (20th March)
Trek from Serrano Camp to Pehue Camp at the shore of Lake Pehue. Approx. 8 hours. |
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Day 5 (21st March)
Trek to the Grey Glacier and back. Views of the huge ice flows from the Patagonian ice field. Approx. 9 hours. |
| Day 6 (22nd March)
Trek up to the French Valleys and back, one of the most challenging days with a steady and steep uphill trek. Approx. 10 hours trekking. |
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Day 7 (23rd March)
From Pehue camp past Lake Nordenskjorld to Torres camp. A hard walk that undulates throughout the day. Approx. 10 hours. |
| Day 8 (24th March)
Hike to to the Torres del Paine - granite pinnacles over 2000m (6000ft) high. Approx. 8 hours trekking. Celebratory meal in the evening. |
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Day 9 (25th March)
Transfer from Torres camp to Punta Arenas and then back to Santiago.
Day 10 (26th March)
Santiago - a day free to enjoy the capital.
Day 11 (27th March)
Transfer to the airport and catch an overnight flight to London.
Day 12 (28th March)
Arrive in London.
