Navimag through Patgonia

Arrived in Puerto Natales earlier today after 4 days aboard the Navimag's Puerto Eden cargo-slash-passenger ship. It was only my second time spending an extended period of time aboard a ship. Such a great way to travel. The scenery through the Chilean fiords is very cool. For the most part the channel is about 200m wide, but on a number of occassions it got fairly skinny: 80m through the English Channel. Kind of resembles the northen B.C. coastline.

The inner channel is hemmed in by rolling hills covered in soft wood. As you get further south the hills grow into glacier capped mountains. Definitely scoped some skiable lines. At times, the glacier run off would hits the sea and create a rip line on the suface of the channel, a moraine torquise churned into the cold blue. During the evening of our 2nd night, we navigated through broken ice. Couldn´t really call them icebergs, but definitely large floating icecubes. They´d make a decent ´clang-k´off the ship´s hull. No damage done.

After two days threading the fiords, we made a 12-hr jaunt into the open. Reached the Pacific just before sunset. Watched the sun fall into the ocean´s horizon. Surprised how quickly it set. That particular night the swells were only about 3m - compared to 9m on rough days - but nonetheless, the boat was rolling and swaying actively. Made for a light sleep up on the single mattress top bunk.

As for wildlife, saw a few dolphins swim along the ships bow, a number of sea otters chilling on their backs (random side: did you know otters crap clouds of white...?) and lots of native birds.

Heading into Torres del Paine National Park tomorrow. Have rented a tent and sleeping bag. Will spend the next 3 nights and 4 days hiking what they call the ´W.´Will see the famous Torres del Paine (3 Towers) and surrounding glaciers. Its Puma season. I´ve been given advice not to run if I spot one. We´ll see if I can remember that.

Pictures from Navimag.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sbbrady/ChileNavimag?feat=directlink