This morning I got up for my drive to El Chalten. After talking to this lovely lady (Antonella) at the hostel, she informed me that you could not go on your own to the petrified forest as this was private land. She called them up and if I wished to meet with them at the half way point they would only charge me 1100.00 Argentinian Pesos. When I put my items in the car to head to El Chalten, I noticed that the trunk hatchback and you could see all my stuff in the car. I decided I would not do this hike until I get back to El Calafate and travel with them … besides the meal was included … so would be worth the price difference.
About the halfway point I stopped at La Leona, a very well known historical spot. On a plaque, it read: ".... This structure, made with mud bricks is still standing today.
They also built a country bar (saloon) and a general store that functions today as the bar and teahouse of the current roadhouse.
In 1921 a labor strike ended in a bloody repression ordered by the government. In this time, La Leona once again became a place where fugitives were able to hide from the government, and ultimately save their lives...."
It was also stated that Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid and his wife Helen Page stayed here for several days after robbing Tarapaca in Rio Gallegos.
Taking my time driving, I saw a few sites from landscape to one very strange site. As I was driving, I looked to my left and saw this strange looking shape by a barbed wire fence. I turned the car around went back to that spot and parked to car on the side the road. I grab my camera and walked over to the strange object. It turned out to be a carcass of a sheep that has been there for quite some time. It must have got tangled up in the fence and has been there ever since. LOL
I arrived in El Chalten and was impressed with the landscape and the mountains scenery.
I drove to the Provincial Parc Information Center to get a map. Turned out they do not have any maps left but I took a picture of one off the wall which they suggested. I made my way into town which has similarity to Waterton Lakes National Park in its earlier years. I had to go through a police checkpoint and they ask me something in Spanish. I said I only speak English and they told me just to keep going. I drove around town to become familiar with the area and then went to my hostel.
After checking in and dragging in all my luggage, I was talking to the owners son who helped me out. He told me that it's a beautiful day and that if I had energy I should go for the walk up to Laguna Capri. He also indicated that it was too late in the day to do the hike all the way around, but that it was a 2 hour hike up to Laguna Capri. After he checked the weather forecast it indicated that tomorrow was 50% chance of rain and that I had better get going to do the hike … I quickly got ready and headed out.
Instead of driving to the parking lot, I left the car and walked the additional 2km to get to the trailhead. I was impressed that while walking up the trail, it seemed like every half a kilometer was a different type of landscape to photograph. I had to stop often to take a few shots and admire the scenery. I climbed 4 kilometres to the view of the mountains … so majestic. What a beautiful sight with the blue glacier on the right hand side and the mountains and the view of the rugged looking mountains in the center.
I then walked back down about half of a kilometre and turned right on the path to go up to Lago Capri which was another half a kilometre. So glad I did this hike today, because it was almost like clear skies and the water was so beautiful with the mountains in the background. I couldn't get over how the scenery changed so much and you're seeing something different at every half a kilometre all the way up to this point.
As a common tradition I took off my sneakers and socks and bottom part of my pants and went into the glacier lake, Laguna Capri. I might say it was very refreshing and I could have stayed in there a lot longer if my legs were not so tired. Lol
After staying up there for about an hour taking photos I made my way back down to El Chelten. I truly enjoyed this hike today and would like to do it again only early in the morning before I leave El Chalten.