Desiree Hester

After hours riding a bus through endless plains interrupted only by the occasional sighting through our window of guanacos lazily sauntering through the golden steppe-plains and gauchos working their land, we at last pull into the quaint town of El Chaltén, Argentina. After spending the previous 4 days in Torres del Paine National Park making do with dehydrated meals, rations of fruit snacks and the occasional protein bar, we now feel like we are eating like kings. Within minutes we are standing in the foyer, head to toe in rain gear (pro tip: do not ever go to Patagonia without head to toe waterproof gear, if you can help it. As the clouds depart the mystical spire of Cerro Torre stands gleaming- white with snow- and jutting up like a dagger against the azure sky.