Delta Excursion -TBC
http://picasaweb.google.com/tigreboatclub.fotos/SalidaEnBote23DeMayoDel2009#5340574225386053586
Back to Buenos Aires
Aerolineas Argentinas Calafate to Buenos Aires via Bariloche. Arg$489 (£83). Cheaper than the bus.
El Calafate - Glaciar Perito Merino - South Side
Renault Clio from Avis Arg$
El Calafate - Todos Glaciares - Upsala
Up early this morning. The bus picked me up at 07:05 and then went round the houses picking up other passengers. We finally cleared Calafate at 08:00 and arrived at Puerto Bandera 30 minutes later.
Right off the bus we had to pat another Arg$60. This is a national park. Then we boarded our Fernandez-Cambell tour caramaran. Both our park and boat tickets were carefully checked before boarding. Bracing this was not. The seating area is fully enclosed with airline style seats and lots of video screens which later showed our GPS track and topography. It was comfortably warm. It was a sheep like experience.
Before departure they announced that part of the route would likely be blocked by heavy ice.
Our departure point at Puerto Bandera.
At 09:00 we were off.
Looking back at Boca del Diablo.
Proceeding along Brazo Norte towards the Upsala glacier.
Built by Unidelta Astilleros in Tigre near Buenos Aires.
Southern shore of Brazo Norte.
Detailed GPS routing on the monitors.
Plus a detailed map on display.
Passengers were allowed out on deck. Not surprisingly it was cold and most stayed inside.
Boca del Diablo more clearly defined.
Twin diesels pushed us along at a cracking rate.
Only now did the sun clear the mountains as we began to encounter icebergs. It was cold.
We had a running commentary in English and Spanish as points of interest were passed.
Glaciers are formed by snow being compressed into ice over some 15 years. They are not formed of frozen water. Hence the very blue/green appearance due, we were told by by the heavier density of glacial ice (less air bubbles).
Approaching Brazo Upsala.
Lots of ice here blocking Brazo Upsala. We would not be going to the Upsala glacier. Brazo Upsala is some 700ft deep and the front of the glacier is afloat. When sections brak off huge bergs are formed.
We went pretty close to the bergs. About 10m at times.
Then we turned down Brazo Spegazzini bound for Glacier Spegazzini
Right off the bus we had to pat another Arg$60. This is a national park. Then we boarded our Fernandez-Cambell tour caramaran. Both our park and boat tickets were carefully checked before boarding. Bracing this was not. The seating area is fully enclosed with airline style seats and lots of video screens which later showed our GPS track and topography. It was comfortably warm. It was a sheep like experience.
Before departure they announced that part of the route would likely be blocked by heavy ice.
Our departure point at Puerto Bandera.
At 09:00 we were off.
Looking back at Boca del Diablo.
Proceeding along Brazo Norte towards the Upsala glacier.
Built by Unidelta Astilleros in Tigre near Buenos Aires.
Southern shore of Brazo Norte.
Detailed GPS routing on the monitors.
Plus a detailed map on display.
Passengers were allowed out on deck. Not surprisingly it was cold and most stayed inside.
Boca del Diablo more clearly defined.
Twin diesels pushed us along at a cracking rate.
Only now did the sun clear the mountains as we began to encounter icebergs. It was cold.
We had a running commentary in English and Spanish as points of interest were passed.
Glaciers are formed by snow being compressed into ice over some 15 years. They are not formed of frozen water. Hence the very blue/green appearance due, we were told by by the heavier density of glacial ice (less air bubbles).
Approaching Brazo Upsala.
Lots of ice here blocking Brazo Upsala. We would not be going to the Upsala glacier. Brazo Upsala is some 700ft deep and the front of the glacier is afloat. When sections brak off huge bergs are formed.
We went pretty close to the bergs. About 10m at times.
Then we turned down Brazo Spegazzini bound for Glacier Spegazzini
Punta Arenas
Attractive Plaza Munoz Gamero and surrounding buildings.
Tourist information in Plaza Munoz Gamero.
The British are everywhere. I passed this school while walking up to Buses Ghisoni to buy a ticket to Rio Gallegos.
The ticket cost C$7000 (about £9.00) and the bus leaves at 10:50 on the 11th of May which is a monday.
Puerto Williams to Punta Arenas
Still very cold this morning with lots of snow on the ground. I considered buying some more suitable boots if we are to be stuck here until Monday but the Zapateria was closed. Unable to check mail as the free internet was again occupied.
On the off chance that things might have changed I dropped by the airline ticket office at 10:20. Surprisingly there was one seat to Punta Arenas today at 11:00 and one tomorrow. I immediately booked today with Aerovias DAP to Punta Arenas at Ch$49,774 (£50).
Dashed back to Pattys (Hostel Pusaki) to settle my bill. 4 nights C$62500 (£78) with Breakfast and an evening meal.
Two bank auditors staying at Hostel Pusaki were flying as well so I took a taxi with them.
En route to Puerto Williams airport.
I was very glad to be leaving. Winter is coming and I did not have the right gear for sustained cold weather.
Conditions were quite bleak as our 10 seat Beechcraft KingAir 100 boarded.
In heavy snow one could not see the end of the runway.
Once airborne we had a brief glimpse of Puerto Williams and once clear of the weather we were rewarded with spectacular views of the Beagle channel.
Cruising altitude was 8000m at about 180knots.
Approaching Pinta Arenas airport. Chilean fighter aircraft are housed in camouflaged hangars on the periphery.
It was a good flight. We landed at 12:30.
I took a transfer bus downtown (Ch$2,000) and with help from the tourist office on Plaza Munoz Gamero located a nearby hostel. En route I popped into into Hotel Condor de Plata at CH$25,000 (£30) per night and decided to stay. Nice to be somewhere warm again. I'm going to stay here for a few days and try to shake my cold.
On the off chance that things might have changed I dropped by the airline ticket office at 10:20. Surprisingly there was one seat to Punta Arenas today at 11:00 and one tomorrow. I immediately booked today with Aerovias DAP to Punta Arenas at Ch$49,774 (£50).
Dashed back to Pattys (Hostel Pusaki) to settle my bill. 4 nights C$62500 (£78) with Breakfast and an evening meal.
Two bank auditors staying at Hostel Pusaki were flying as well so I took a taxi with them.
En route to Puerto Williams airport.
I was very glad to be leaving. Winter is coming and I did not have the right gear for sustained cold weather.
Conditions were quite bleak as our 10 seat Beechcraft KingAir 100 boarded.
In heavy snow one could not see the end of the runway.
Once airborne we had a brief glimpse of Puerto Williams and once clear of the weather we were rewarded with spectacular views of the Beagle channel.
Cruising altitude was 8000m at about 180knots.
Approaching Pinta Arenas airport. Chilean fighter aircraft are housed in camouflaged hangars on the periphery.
It was a good flight. We landed at 12:30.
I took a transfer bus downtown (Ch$2,000) and with help from the tourist office on Plaza Munoz Gamero located a nearby hostel. En route I popped into into Hotel Condor de Plata at CH$25,000 (£30) per night and decided to stay. Nice to be somewhere warm again. I'm going to stay here for a few days and try to shake my cold.
