Trekking in Patagonia and Michelle's Birthday

   Mount Fitzroy, Torres Del Paine, and the national park of Tierra Del Fuego were the three destinations in which we hiked over 40 miles. The hikes were extraordinary. Calm snowy forests, woods in which the headless horseman might have enjoyed chasing Ichabod Crane, winds that could throw you off balance, snow, rain, and sun all within 20 minutes, foxes, sharp peaks whose shapes seemed to defy traditional mountain making principles, one person log bridges, ample streams and blooming flowers, and plenty of up and down were all par for the course. 
   Just do not go out on your wife's birthday because then it will rain so hard that the rain in the wind stings your face. Your rain jacket will also turn out to not be rainproof after your longjohns have thoroughly been wetted. But hey, your new waterproof shoes will not be wet yet! Until, of course they do get wet. Camouflaged as a puddle, you will get into your campsite and find the hot water broken. Fortunately it is your loving wife's birthday and the water comes on just before you lose all hope of ever being warm. Then your tour leader gets a room with a fire in the lodge that will quickly fill with the malodors of drying socks. A memorable birthday you shall have, but try and go for the conventional beauty that good weather hiking affords you. I must refer you to pictures of this marvelous land to truly understand the majesty that Gd has endowed Patagonia (go to the photogallery here or at ethankarp.com).

Birthday cake while camping!