Day 3 of the W Trail: A French Valley Frenzy (with Missing Nails and Major Gains)

            Dudes and dudettes, buckle up for the epic saga that was Day 3 of the W Trail!  Let me tell you, this French Valley threw down the gauntlet, and it was even more mind-blowing than Day 1 with the iconic Torres del Paine and Day 2's tango with a puma (seriously, still can't believe that one!).

See, the French Valley goes all out. We're talking French glaciers, thunderous avalanches (like, seriously loud!), a French River that wouldn't shut up, and viewpoints named after both France AND Britain. Can't even imagine the international squabbles that went down over those!

But hey, it's all part of the journey, right?  Especially when the journey involves conquering mountains (or at least surviving them) and, more importantly, the glorious promise of a Pisco Sour at the end (jury's still out on that one).

My trek started at the posh digs of Refugio Francés, perched a cool 180 m (590 ft) above sea level. From there, it was all downhill (literally!) to Refugio Paine Grande, which sits at a slightly less impressive 40 m (130 ft).  Easy, right?  Wrong!

Think about it: skirting the mighty Cerro Paine Grande, the park's undisputed king at a staggering 3,030 m (10,006 ft).  Oh, and let's not forget the 7,7-km (4.8-mile) stretch of mud, streams, and enchanting forests that tried their best to trip me up.

But hey, a warrior (or at least a slightly muddy one) perseveres!  Finally, with legs like jelly, a backpack that felt like it was filled with anvils, and a heart overflowing with accomplishment, I reached Refugio Paine Grande.

Now, let's talk stats, because this wasn't your stroll through the park.  This was a 23-km (14-mile) odyssey that stretched from 8:10 AM to a glorious 6:20 PM, complete with nature breaks, photo ops, snack attacks (gotta re-fuel those warrior muscles!), hydration stations featuring questionable "galgal water," and philosophical discussions with fellow adventurers.

What did I lose on this epic journey?  Well, besides some dignity (seriously, those mud patches!), my right thumbnail (thanks, rogue rock!), and both toenails on my second foot (nature, you're a mystery).  But hey, as the wise folks say, "the nails go, but the fingers stay!"  Plus, who needs fancy toenails when you've got mountain conquering stories to tell, right?

Now, onto the good stuff!  Hot shower, clean clothes, a legendary buffet dinner, and (fingers crossed) a Pisco Sour (or three) with the crew to swap stories about the jaw-dropping beauty we just witnessed.  Stay tuned, folks, because Day 4 promises even more Patagonian awesomeness!

***

What I see and where I am in this photograph:

Alright folks, almost at the end of Day 3 on the W Trail! My legs are screaming, my lungs are singing the blues, but my heart is soaring higher than a condor with a hangover.  Let me tell you, this place is unreal.

Right now, I'm setting my sights on Refugio Paine Grande, our cozy home for the night.  This gem sits right across from the mighty Cerro Ferrier, a behemoth clocking in at a whopping 1,599 m (5,246 ft). That's almost a whole mile straight up!  Crazy, right?

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Taken in: Chile / Region of Magallanes / Torres del Paine / Estancia Pudeto (show map)

Taken on: April 21, 2024

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Sets appears in: • The W Trail Day 3: from Refugio Francés to Refugio Paine Grande, del Paine National Park, Chilean Patagonia.

Groups appears in: • Chile • UNESCO World Heritage Sites more » • visit the world - the travel guide • Travel Photography • South America - public group • Landscape Exploration • Montañas de los Andes • Parques Nacionales y Reservas de Chile • Views: 10,000 • Torres del Paine • ***PATAGONIA*** • Mountains Anywhere • Click! P1-C2 • ! 90+ Faves (P1,A+F3) • SONY ILCE-6000/6300/6500 • Flickr Social • ! FavTop SuperMaster 1000+ (P1, A+F4) • All Free Pictures (Creative Commons and Public Domain) • MakeLove☮NotWar • Favorites: 1000 • Shadows and Moods • A UNESCO SITE • Brain Vision. Art. • Pure real and virtual works of art • La beauté du monde. « less

Camera: Sony ILCE-6300, f/10.0, 1/125 sec, 50mm (=75mm), ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-6300
Lens:	E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
Aperture:	f/10.0
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Focal Length:	50mm (35mm equivalent: 75mm)
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Landscape
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Scene Capture Type:	Landscape
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 16.4 (Windows)
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