El Chalten and Onward: The Lone Wolf Chapters, pt 1

Alrighty, I'm breaking these posts up because blogger doesn't seem to like large file size.

Avinash left early Saturday morning in a midst of some really nasty weather. Side note: check out this crazy cloud from the eve before, which I was told signaled impending storms.

They were right! Gloomy skies for a gloomy occasion. In fact, Mother Nature was so kind as to keep the rain and wind coming all day. Honestly, I was feeling pretty down to have lost my travel buddy. The hostel I was camped at was fine, but the people staying there seemed to be long term tenants with an existing social structure. They also all spoke spanish, almost exclusively. I was just the random gringo camped out in back. 

I would have just stayed in my tent all cozy and slept it off if I was smart. But naaaah, I decided to blow off steam by going for a 2hr trail run, during which I managed to tear my awesome rain coat on a branch. After locating the seamstress in town, I just opted to do a duct tape patch. We'll see how that works. Pics from the jog:

Really not much to see. Apparently it's a very awesome lake with a glacier and icebergs (which you can kinda see) and Cerro Torre in the back (which you can't see). Too bad I went when there were so many clouds. I was wet and my coat was soaked through by the end. Did feel better though! 

Sunday was a big bounce back day for me. 

1) Checked into a more foreign-friendly hostel.

2) Went for a sweet hike, during which I was social and chatted with a couple of French dudes.

After a tough hike up near the end (always seems to be that way), I reached this incredible outlook. In the 3rd pic, that's Fitzroy on the right and the smaller thin single spire on the left is Cerro Torre. It was first climbed some 20 years after Everest, and I believe remains one of the most technically difficult climbs in the world. Hunkered down to.hide from the wind and grab some munchies.

3) After cooking for myself in the hostel (budget yay), I grabbed drinks with a guy from San Francisco I'd run into earlier and a couple of people he knew. Saw this incredible sunset from the street.

Good local beer (so cheap) and nice company.