Chile '25 • Day 8: Perito Moreno Glacier
- Bob Aron
- Jan 24, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 11, 2025
MINI TREKKING
WALKING ON A GLACIER
We realized after getting to El Calafate that we should probably book another tour as there weren’t 2 days worth of hanging out around town to keep us busy. The trip to the petrified forest was a bit long, and it cannot be visited without a tour, so we couldn’t even drive there and muck about on our own. It looks really interesting though, so if you’re coming here, plan ahead.
So last minute, we booked a half day tour to go ‘minitrekking’ on the Perito Glacier. OK, I know we are no longer young, but seriously, you must be under 65 to take the tour? Good thing we came this year as we’re getting awfully close to that milestone. We were already ‘aged out’ on the ‘Big Ice’ tour by more than a decade, yikes! 65 seemed a bit arbitrary though, anyone still able to ski could easily do this trip.
Part One: Take a short boat ride to the edge of the glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier is the most popular because it is possible to take either a short boat trip to see it, or get good views from land without spending for a tour. But actually getting on the ice was something else. It’s like another planet once you get on there. The blue ice crevices, the other worldly landscape. We only scratched the surface, but still had to put on crampons and learn to walk on the ice. I can only imagine what it would be like to do some crazy Everest or Antarctica adventure.
Part Two: Take a short hike from the dock to the edge of the glacier
Gloves are mandatory, not so much for the cold, but for potentially sharp ice in a fall. The staff were nice enough to help us into the crampons, though I wish I had tied my shoes tighter beforehand. The crampons felt a little loose because my shoes felt a little loose with the heavy crapons attached. It worked out ok though with no need to stop and redo on the ice.
Part Three: Get Ready for the Ice
Part Four: Time for Trekking
No rain, but not as sunny as yesterday. Maybe not as good for photos, but probably a lot easier on the eyes. Even with cloudy weather, the white ice is bright. Our guide was great. He rock climbs and hopes to visit Yosemite some day. And just like yesterday, whisky with glacier ice to cap off the excursion! Oh Yeah! Another experience I would fully recommend.
Step Five: Whisky and Glacier Ice!
More on the Perito Moreno Glacier
Comments