The first hike was into Torres del Paine. It was tough because we could not get a campsite closer to the Torres. So we had to start walking at 2am for ~10km and 1000m to make it for sunrise. We did well until the last 0.5km and then my partner slowed down with cramps. But we kept on going and got there by sunrise.
Sunrise at Torres del Paine is difficult - the last 1km is quite steep with big huge rocks and is not well marked, its dark, there is no clear trail to the best spot, its cold, there are people everywhere and the slope is really steep with risk of rock falling on yourself, and its cold and hard to climb back up if you go down to the lake.
That said, it was really fun but I am not sure I don't need to go back now that I know the location better.
Scott,
These look great, haven't seen this viewpoint before. Viewing these reminded me of Marc Andre Leclerc do solo climb up Torre Egger. May have to watch that one again.
Apr 03, 2023 at 07:51 AM
Mark Metternich Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
Good to hear you did the hike. I will be there for two separate hikes in the Patagonia Region in two weeks. I sure hope I get the clouds you desperately needed here.
junglialoh: Glad you like the wonders. Although the site was difficult, there were people from all over the world there in the early morning. It was a a great sight. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Sunny Sra: Everyone I speak to refers to Torre Egger and Marc Andre Leclerc, so I will have to watch the video too. This is the most popular/famous view in Torres del Paine. It is worth the walk. Glad you like viewpoint. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Mark Metternich: Glad you like the images. It was a fantastic hike, starting at 2am and finishing at 2pm back at camping central. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Jeffrey: Clouds would have made it better, but if you ask me to choose between heavily overcast (some days) or rain (some days) or clear - I would choose the clear. As is it was about 40f or lower when we got there. Good luck with your weather. The colour was just changing (not there - there are no trees) . So in week it will be prime. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Rajan Parrikar: Glad you like 4. I was there for early light but did not count on it being so difficult to choose the right location to shoot from in the dark with steep dangerous rock about. In retrospect the pictures I liked the best were closer to the water and closer to arrival point. Alternatively, you could go immediately go up even further (and shoot down more). So yes the pictures I posted were later, because the reflection was nicer at that time- not because I missed it. If you do it, I suggest staying at Chilano (only 2 hours away) and going in to check it out in the day to plan for the early morning. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
dgdg: I guess I should have read ore about the scramble before going. But my buddy was pretty tired by the time we got there and it was pitch dark for a scramble. I guess this is why you go with a tour group - they would know the spot. But it was still work the 12 hours (less a bit) of walking. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
The instant my eyes hit your first image I uttered "Oh my God".
Went to your other images, and was much impressed by your log cabin. It brought me back to our old log cabin Salem, Maine.
Patagonia is one of the premiere nature destinations on the Planet. I am thankful to see another example of ecotourism being our hope of saving nature.
bs kite wrote:
The instant my eyes hit your first image I uttered "Oh my God".
Went to your other images, and was much impressed by your log cabin. It brought me back to our old log cabin Salem, Maine.
Patagonia is one of the premiere nature destinations on the Planet. I am thankful to see another example of ecotourism being our hope of saving nature.
Glad you like the first image. It is really interesting to see how Chile/Patagonia has been so successful in creating a ecotourism industry. It's also interesting to see two different countries approaches. Chile is far more controlled and Argentina is far looser. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Scott, hats off to you for another strenuous hike 👏 I always love reading the backstory as it makes me appreciate the images more considering the hike and risks getting to your spot. Beautiful location and you did well. 👍🏻
keepclicking wrote:
Scott, hats off to you for another strenuous hike 👏 I always love reading the backstory as it makes me appreciate the images more considering the hike and risks getting to your spot. Beautiful location and you did well. 👍🏻
Glad you like the location shots. Strenuous for a (62 year old) me carrying camera equipment, but not for the young. But I would consider this hike at least moderate for even the fit - long, dark, big rocks, gets way steep at the end, and cold. Glad you like the back story.
We arrived almost exhausted in the dark. There were people going higher (above the lake there is a rock boulder ridge) and people going to the lake. We went down to the lake because it was not easy to determine the best spot and it was down (we were tired). At the lake I realized it was a little tight (and there was no flat to walk and see more of the right Torre) with the right Torre not showing as much as I wanted. I started climbing and shifting away from the flat part of the lake to gain the right torre. I soon discovered that - it was to dangerous to people below and very difficult getting higher - so I just stopped and tried to make lemonade from a lemon spot. Then the rangers showed up and required all to get out from the danger - including me. Fortunately, that put me back to 1 of the best two spots - extreme right by the water - which had a great reflection (1st picture) [but a little pinched and competing with Instagram people]. The other best spot would have required climbing higher (scrambling) in the dark which would have cause big risk for people below. I think they need to mark the area better. There were spots where their were 15' boulders on 45 degree slops that looked ripe for tumbling. And when you accidentally kicked a small rock out it skidded all the way to the bottom.
The morale of the story is to go with someone who has been there before - there are just too many people and too much danger of rocks - in the dark. Or go up the day before for planning. If you get into Chelano its only 2 hours to the top in the day time. Or just do it again - this view does not improve with fall and is good at a warmer time of the year. Or maybe I just need to bring a pretty girl model (my 58 year old wife is not inclined to cold and suffering) so no one pays attention to my composition
It looks like a wonderful area to explore! From a photographic standpoint it looks like your white balance has way too much of a cool tint, particularly evident in the last photo. The blue of the sky looks significantly oversaturated.
mdude85 wrote:
It looks like a wonderful area to explore! From a photographic standpoint it looks like your white balance has way too much of a cool tint, particularly evident in the last photo. The blue of the sky looks significantly oversaturated.
mdude85: thanks for the specific feedback related to saturation. As always I struggle with Lightroom / sgb and adrgb. I will take a look at the saturation. It is a wonderful area.
Love your first pic with full reflection! Those hikes, especially around the rocks with high winds are nasty. But you had Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy to see! My last trip there had a week of clouds, rain, snow and high winds!
dbehrens wrote:
Love your first pic with full reflection! Those hikes, especially around the rocks with high winds are nasty. But you had Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy to see! My last trip there had a week of clouds, rain, snow and high winds!
Glad you like the first. It was an eye opener - I thought I understood big winds from southern Alberta but there were times I was thrown off balance. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Scott Stoness wrote:
mdude85: thanks for the specific feedback related to saturation. As always I struggle with Lightroom / sgb and adrgb. I will take a look at the saturation. It is a wonderful area.
sRGB is usually the better color space to use compared to Adobe RGB.
We have all seen many, many images of this incredible place, but never once have I seen one from this vantage point. Thank-you.
But, on top of that, I have never seen this place with NO clouds and wind ripping through the gaps and stirring things up. Very cool to see it like this--clear as a bell and calm.
We have all seen many, many images of this incredible place, but never once have I seen one from this vantage point. Thank-you.
But, on top of that, I have never seen this place with NO clouds and wind ripping through the gaps and stirring things up. Very cool to see it like this--clear as a bell and calm.
Really nicely done. First class.
Thank you!
Dave
Glad you like 1. After visiting Chile side of Patagonia, I now understand that a calm day is a rare day. On one day, as we walked by a older couple one of them was literally blown over even though she had poles in her hand (we went back to help her up and she was fine and had a [questionable] guide) and on another we went down to the beach and turned back because I could not keep my glasses from blowing off my face and getting pitted. Glad you like the picture. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Those hikes, especially around the rocks with high winds are nasty. But you had Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy to see! My last trip there had a week of clouds, rain, snow and high winds! 