Patagonia Road Trip Day #5: 15-Mile Round Trip Hike to See The Legendary 11,171′ Mt. Fitzroy From Lago Sucio

Miles Clark | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report

Report from November 22, 2022

On Tuesday, day #5 of our Patagonia road trip, we were torn.

The sun came out so we could go ski or we could hike up and see the legendary 11,171′ Mount Fitzroy (the crown jewel of Argentina) up close and personal.

We drove the ski zone and stared at it waiting for the weather to clear.

Fitzroy. image: snowbrains

It didn’t.

But the Fitzroy did…

After waiting for about an hour, we pulled the plug on skiing and went for the 15-mile round trip hike to Lago Sucio at the base of the Fitzroy.

Miles enjoying the Fitzroy. image: gabe monroe

The walk out there was stunning.

Raging river, granite boulders, dense Legna forests, the Piedras Blancas glacier, waterfalls.

We ended up off the main trail on a small mountaineers trail along the river that was rugged and beautiful.

Gorgeous. image: snowbrains

As we finally rounded the corner into Lago Sucio, the Fitzroy towers came into view.

We were awestruck.

Seeing the towers up close is a religious experience.

The glacier is brutally cracked up and leaking copious amounts of water that were streaming and falling down into the lake only to be interrupted by vicious, swirling winds that rejected the waterfalls’ downward projection and threw the water back uphill in spurts and fountains.

Framed Fitzroy. image: snowbrains

We were mesmerized.

We laid back on the rocks for almost two hours just taking in the show.

We even fell asleep for a bit with the sun on our faces.

Stunning. image: snowbrains

As the sun finally turned and left the faces of the towers, we slowly slinked away.

I must have looked over my shoulder 100 times…

It was a tough place to turn your back on.

Patagonia. image: snowbrains

It pulled my eyes back like a magnet.

Did we make the right call?

Sightseeing over skiing on a sunny day in El Chalten?

After seeing how impressive these towers and glaciers and waterfalls are up close, I can confidently say that we did.

And we saw flamingos on the way home.

Thanks, El Chalten.

NOVEMBER 2022 REPORTS FROM ARGENTINA, CHILE, ANTARCTICA

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Tierra Del Fuego

Antarctica

Tierra Del Fuego

Patagonia

Tierra Del Fuego

PHOTOS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

SnowBrains Patagonia 2022 Road Trip. 2 Countries, 4 border crossings, 2 ferries.
Start. image: snowbrains
Gabe bridge. image: snowbrains
Gorgeous forest. image: snowbrains
Green & Granite. image: snowbrains
Fitzroy and river. image: snowbrains
Gabe likes it. image: snowbrains
Miles is obnoxious. image: snowbrains
Wow. image: snowbrains
River and granite. image: snowbrains
Getting closer. image: snowbrains
A little closer… image: snowbrains
Almost there. image: snowbrains
Peeking out. image: snowbrains

Here we go! image: snowbrains
Stunned. image: snowbrains
Rocks. image: snowbrains
gaping. image: snowbrains
Whoa. image: snowbrains
Fitzroy glory. image: snowbrains
Paused. image: snowbrains
Gabe and Fitz. image: snowbrains
Blue waters. image: snowbrains
Gabe. image: snowbrains
Miles stoked. image: snowbrains
Stunning. image: snowbrains
Happy humans. image: snowbrains
Fitzroy. image: snowbrains
Lago Sucio. image: snowbrains
Headed home. image: snowbrains
Green. image: snowbrains

Mountains. image: snowbrains
Piedras Blancas glacier. image: snowbrains

Green and sun. image: snowbrains
Sunshine Fitzroy. image: snowbrains
Gnocchi at La Tapera. image: snowbrains
Chorizo at La Tapera. image: snowbrains
Posted by Miles Clark |

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