Day 307 Continued..
Thursday, 3rd January
The bus took us to the area where we were to catch the boat to get to the other side of the glaciar where we were to do the ice trek. We walked to the platform where the boat, Alacaluff¨ left from and boarded the boat. There were about 16 of us.
We reached the area where we were to trek, with our small backpacks and clipped on water bottles on and readied ourselves to trek the 3.5km bush walk to the ice.
The trees looked more jurrasic here than before..with long trunks and high foliage..and it felt like we were trekking though an unknown jungle. The trek wasnt´that worn ... and felt like a relatively new one. Tourism was still young so i imagine the trekking concept is new too.
The lakes were so blue and beautiful...and the trek was fun. It wasn´t that uneven or very up and down. IT was pretty constant and steady ground so that was good. Greg and i felt it was very easy actually..compared to the inca trail! So we just enjoyed the walk. Other´s were finding it difficult which surprised us.
After about 1km, Julio stopped in front of the glaciar with a fold out board and explained what the trek plan was and where we were going to trek on the ice. He explained the lake and ice system which was interesting as well. He introduced us to his partner who was to accompany us on the hike..and make sure we didn´t fall into any crevices!
We soon got to the spot where we were to put the crampons on, which are the steel spiky cramps that allow you to walk on ice, and straight away sat on benches where experts were there to tie them up for us.
It seemed there was no time for thinking or getting used to wearing trekking boots with crampons before we headed off on the 2.5km trek on ice.
And there was no turning back when we had to waddle like ducks..and stamp on the ice so the crampons hooked in...or when we were going up slopes at 60 degrees. We were amateurs on ice..and yet it seemed before long we were just trudging our way along like true champions.
The ice was so blue. This is from refracted light on the ice. And it looks amazing to see the caves and pools on the ice. Julio, the guide took us on ice that had not been previously trodden, as is the rule there..so it felt quite precarious at times!
I wanted to be in front, close behind the guide, so it wasn´t slushed and trodden on by 14 others first!!!!! And i managed to stay pretty much up there..when i could! I wasn´t taking any risks.
It was fun..and the glacial water was so fresh. I filled up my water bottle with it and it was the best water i´ve ever tasted i have to say. So pure and fresh and just tasty!
Greg was in his element! He was having a ball..and probably a bit relieved that i was having fun too. We stopped at an ice cave...where Greg was REALLY in his element!!! We both got in slightly..then he went right in! He´s more into this than me. I didn´t want the cave to collapse!
It´s quite addictive this ice trekking.....and although i had a few scares...like when i had to go down in a sharp angle..and couldnt think if i had to use the same technique as when i went up....and the guide said, ¨Tilt back lady!¨haha which made it so much better. THere´s a tendency when going on a steep slope down..to titlt forward!
I just kept thumping my ice clawed feet in! We were told to keep even..no tilting of the foot, or we´d fall! And to dig the toe in more when we´re going up..and the heel in more when we were going down! So much to remember! But you do feel you have to do it right..or fall in a crevice, or a pool, or something!
Julio did a display for us at one point and literally climed a ice mount with a 85 degree slope...using his ice pick to dig in and haul himself up! It was very impressive..but i wasn´t convinced i wanted to graduate to using an icepick on the ice! Greg had a go with the pick though!
The blue holes looked like aquamarine and blue sapphire. Hard to describe the blue of the water...it just kept impressing us and we were all in awe.
At 6pm...we reached the summit. Our summit anyway. The end of our ice journey. The two guides then said they had a treat.
From literally nowhere..the produced a makeshift table...and a bottle of Grouse Farmhouse whiskey and after Julio hacked at a big block of ice to make icecubes...we drank whiskey on the ice and ate chocolate biscuits!! What a way to go. All on the ice!
I feel like i achieved something by doing this ice trek. It´s something i have been worried about since Greg started making enquires about...and no joke, the fact that you had to be between 25 and 45 years old to do the trek...had me worried. Greg didn´t tell them his age.............and that fact never came up. But i KNEW he was slghtly over 45..and i was on the boarder!
But hey!
Us old foges made it. We went ice trekking!
And..we trekked the 3.5km´s home again, no problems. And at the end of the day..we were still running on adrenalin from the excitement..and other´s were asleep on the bus!
IT was a very cool day.
Or should i say..and ICE day! :-)
Later in the night....10pm...we ate at Ricks Parillo...and went to bed SO HAPPY.
PS Still can´t get messages home..and now the internet was not working!!!!
