Exploring Fjords and Glaciers under Sunny Skies
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Fri 14 May 2010 01:06
a boat 4 hours there and back along one of the lakes/ Fjords heading up to a
set of Glaciers and mountains. It was still dark as we stepped outside but
no wind it was still, cold but no chill factor compared with the day before
which there was wind blowing hard.
We were taken to a small ferry boat with about 15 others and we pulled out
as the sun rose, with coffee under our nose. The water was like a mirror as
we ploughed through it at 12 knots disturbing the white swans drifting in
the still morning. The mist was still over the mountains behind but blue sky
could be seen to the west, and we saw the mist rise quickly to broken cloud,
and still no wind. We past sleepy farm houses (cattle ranchers ) on either
side with the smoke coming form their cookers, many of these farms are only
accessed by boat. As we came close to some towering cliffs we sea lions
playing in small rock caves, and then gliding off the cliff tops were
Condors 2 huge and poetry in motion using the up lifts off these cliffs. In
the middle we had this water fall cascading down the cliff, and all three
played together. (see photos) By this stage the sun was out to the west
mountains allowing them to reflect on the water, and as we came up to the
first Glacier we had the deep blue of the base of a glacier showing through.
We moved on to the second glacier which feeds into a glacier lake which
cascades into the fjord, out we hoped and did a nice 2 mile hike around this
lake to the Glacier base. As we did this the sun and clouds cleared above,
and the mountains above came very clear, and we could see the top of the
glacier all the way down. A lot of people are astounded that we just getting
on with travelling with 2 kids but why not is our attitude, and we use
things like back carrier backpack for Alex (this has served us well with
Sean and Alex, see photo) and Sean walked the whole way there and back. We
walked around a lake of green color and full of broken off ice, one of the
party decided to climb into a dinghy moored on the side, and did not have
sea legs and went over into this freezing water, to be hauled out within a
minute, now fully drenched in ice water (why was he on a boat that he does
not own???).
On the way back we had totally clear skies and could see the Torres Paine
towers and the mountains around in their full glory, and we could sit
outside in the sun, still cold but warm compared to yesterday. Stopping at a
cattle ranch for a late 2.30pm lunch, which was all lamb fresh from the
farm, and lovely to have fresh land chops. Arriving back at night fall it
was a full day, over 120 miles on water and stops and hikes seeing great
birds in the wild, sea life and nature in it's ice form, Sean and Alex
continue to ask questions and we do exercises around the subjects we seeing
as well as art on the subjects (see photo) which makes it a really full day
for them. Tomorrow is a day of rest exploring the town for Alex's birthday.
Another wonderful day in a natural wonder land, of mountains and lakes and
fjords which photos really do not do it justice.
