December 19th – The Second Part of “The W”

As is mountain tradition, we woke this morning very, very early and packed up our packs for a trip across the lake.  After breakfast we drove as short way to the lake landing and boarded a catamaran for the half hour ride across Lake Pehoe.  The catamaran was quite modern and nicely equipped with sharply unfimred crew.  Capable of holding about 100 passengers it was full this moring with eager hikers looking forward to another great day in the park.  The winds had calmed and the sky was a bright and irresistible blue.  It was going to be a great day.  The ride was pleansant and we landed on the other side of the lake at the resort.  A modern facility with large cafeteria and bar along with wood boardwalks throughout the large camping area.  We quickly set up one tent to hold our bags and then broke into two hiking groups to assault the middle of “The W.”  Today would be an awesome day as the weather continued to break.  We traversed over small hills and valleys walking under the towers of Paine Grande, the tallest mountain in the range.  We skirted Lake Sarmiento with its amazing deep cobalt blue color.  After two hours we reached the banks of the French
River and the entrance ot the French Valley.  After crossed the swinging suspension bridge we rested and had lunch at the  French Camp site.  At this point half of us turned back for a return hike to the lodge.  The rest of us continued up the trail to the top of the glacial moraine and a closer view of the back of the horns, the shield, and the spear – names for the granite peaks that surrounded us.  After another two hours of climbing over rocks and boulders and up very steep trails over roots and tree trunks, we reached the top of the moraine and a spectacular view of the peaks.  The sky had cleared, the cloud cover had dissapted, and the day was spectacular.

We took many, many photos and then slowly headed down the mountain.  Five hours later we returned to camp and straight up the stairs of the lodge to the bar for a well deserved Pisco Sour and a few beers.  Dinner tonight was in the cafeteria and we were treated to a great dinner of fresh veggie salads, braised chicken and potatoes, and white chocolate mouse.  Yummy!

Some more conversation was followed by retiring to our tents and warm down sleeping bags.  It didn’t take long for us to fall asleep.