Nature Escape @El Calafate
Narnia at Its Peak.
Every so often, we go on three-day trips to reconnect with each other, and all these trips share one commonality: they encompass nature. We had a big dream: to visit La Patagonia in South America, a place full of natural beauty. We chose to visit El Calafate, a place known for its unique wonders.
The trip exceed our expectations. On day one, we visited Perito Moreno, a big and unique glacier that is three miles long. The next day, we wanted to immerse in the mountains, which is one of the similarities we share with each other. We drove to El Chalten, 220 km from El Calafate. The trail we chose, named Laguna de los Tres Rios, is 24 km long. Most of it is not too hard, but the last 3 miles took us more than three hours.
Laguna de los Tres Rios. First Stop. 3/24 km.
We started our walk at 9:04 am. In May, the sun rises late, so it was very cold and dark in the beginning. We began hiking, and a snow storm started all of a sudden. At first, I was hesitant about the weather conditions but I chose to look at the other side of the coin: the snow made everything magical, like Narnia. I sensed our happiness and already a reward in what we were doing.
He is full of energy and loves life, which inspires me everyday. While I usually focus on the planning, the path, and what to bring, he helps me enjoy the moment. He likes to meditate and breathes deeply and asks me to try it too. Sometimes meditation is hard for me, but I am happy he complements me in this matter.
In nature, we always end up talking about our relationship. We discuss our future, how we are doing, how is the communication, and if the trip was what we hoped for. Having moments alone together is important for us. We do a good job at staying aligned with goals, expectations and dreams. And although sometimes those conversations are draining, they are worth it.
Us at the Top. “Aha” Moment; Aqui Estamos y Aqui nos Quedamos. Fitz Roy in the Back.
Near the end of our walk, we saw a puma staring at us. I was scared, but he wasn’t. He thinks about death differently than I do, and we talk about our perspectives often. I like hearing his thoughts about mortality; they calm me because they are more rational than mine. Knowing that moments like these won’t last forever is hard, but we are thankful for this time together and the idea behind death that helps us feel more alive than ever.
Laguna de los Tres Rios was and will continue to be on top of our list. We walked in the wild for almost 10 hours, finishing at 6:50 pm. We were so excited that we didn’t eat the sandwiches we brought, almost fasting through the whole 10 hour hike. We were looking forward to showering, resting, and sharing the aftermath with each other, “Para un segundo y respira, y acuerdate que rico es respirar, mira a tu alrededor, y aprecia donde estas”.
“Por todas las millas de Calafate”
@Laguna de los Tres Lagos, El Chalten.
