W Trail Day 2: Relief and Awe at the Final Ascent.

            Standing at the top of the final 200-meter (656-foot) climb, just 27 minutes from the futuristic domes of Mountain Hostel Francés, my heart pounded with exhilaration. The hostel, perched at a much lower 120 meters (394 feet) above sea level, seemed like a distant reward after conquering 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) on the W Circuit. Relief washed over me as I embarked on the last descent – my 60-liter (16-gallon) backpack, once light with anticipation, now felt satisfyingly heavy, a testament to a day well-spent.

The trail offered a diverse challenge: easy, switchbacked paths interspersed with refreshing water crossings (sometimes muddy!), sturdy bridges spanning gushing rivers, and a constant display of diverse flora and fauna. All I craved now was a well-deserved pisco sour to celebrate the successful completion of day two.

But before I indulged, the breathtaking panorama stopped me cold. Bathed in the afternoon light, the magnificent Lake Nordenskjöld unfolded before me, with the even grander Lake Pehoé shimmering just beyond – a glimpse of the adventures awaiting me on days three and four. To the right, the imposing Cerro Ferrier pierced the sky at a staggering 1,599 meters (5,246 feet), dwarfed only slightly by its neighbor, Cerro Donoso, at 1,468 meters (4,816 feet). The sheer scale of the landscape left me speechless. The W Circuit was living up to its reputation, and I eagerly anticipated what tomorrow would bring.

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

Taken on: April 20, 2024

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Sets appears in: • The W Circuit (Day 2): from Refugio Central to Refugio Frances, del Paine National Park, Chilean Patagonia.

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Camera: Sony ILCE-6300, f/7.1, 1/100 sec, 16mm (=24mm), ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-6300
Lens:	E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length:	16mm (35mm equivalent: 24mm)
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 16.3 (Windows)
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