El Chalten. Tuesday 7th November 2006.

Today we embark on a 20 km hike through the national park making stops at the mirador overlooking the Fitzroy river, before climbing to De Agostini base camp and eventually to our goal at Laguna Torre.

We are not lucky enough to see one of the local puma's, however we do come across some of the animals waste products.

Patagonian weather changes with a startling regularity and so when we return to town we are all very grateful for warm drinks and food at Del Bosque. Today I sample mate (pronounced mateh), a southern american tea that is particularly popular in Argentina...I am afraid to say but it is rather disgusting.

Dinner tonight is at the local youth hostel Rancho Grande and I am nursing along with the blisters of today, a twist in my knee which made the last part of today's hike a challenge.