EL CHALTEN

I will go to El Chalten for the first time in my life. It is a small touristic Patagonia town that I have never been able to visit even though I have been to the Patagonia region 3 times at different times. Argentines call it the center of trekking, and they have the right to do so. I found a campsite from Ioverlander and attached it with the note that you should watch the sunrise from the viewpoint before entering the town. I have to climb quite a bit until I get there. It's winter, and the slopes warm me up. This incredible mountain immediately reveals itself when you get closer to the vantage point. This mountain, which also contains a small glacier, has routes with unmistakable landscapes where you can trek for at least a week without stopping. First of all, I want to see how the sun rises. While I am waiting for things to calm down with my bicycle 5 or 6 km away from the city entrance, photographers, travelers, and locals from all over visit this magnificent place regularly.

Things calm down and I pitch my tent behind a small motovan. They are two German couples waiting for the morning sun. After a small introduction, they rent a motovan and learn that they will be coming to the Patagonia region. Although it is winter, the roads are generally open. I wake up without waiting for the sunrise and we arrive at the viewpoint, which does not take even 10 minutes, with a few people accompanying me. The sun has risen thousands of times in my life and I have watched many different mountain views. However, this mountain sees the sunrise directly, I am sure that the light coming from that slope will be in very different tones in every season of the year. Some days it will decorate a thousand shades of orange, some days it will decorate yellow and yellow tones of the open air. Especially the clouds that peel off like a horse's head, wrap around the top like a naïve shawl, and blow add a different beauty to this sunrise. My share is a journey that starts with purple and goes to red, red, and even the craziest, most saturated, most intense shade of red. The feeling that I have lived a lifetime for this sunrise does not leave me alone for a moment. I find myself in front of a painting that is painted moment by moment with a light, every minute of which adds a different excitement. I want this journey to never end.

I don't enter the town with an indescribable intoxication and feelings of excitement on my face and inside. Here, I want to go and relax at the place known as "la casa de ciclista", which I mentioned before, where affordable bicycle travelers stay. I'm tired, but psychologically I haven't felt so motivated in a long time. I am greeted by the owner of the house, Don Pedro. I think I'll stay for a few days and do trekking and then continue on my way.

As I said, the town is a tourist center, it is very expensive. There are many trekking routes around it and the entrance to this national park was free during my time. Staying in the town, food, necessities, and so on are expensive. In addition, Argentine inflation coincided with my period and prices change every week, whether you want to or not. After a few days' rest, I want to plan a week's trip and head to Willa O'Higgins, which is the border of Chile. As far as I planned, I will have to cross the Lago De Desierto lake on the last ferry and drive on the 5 or 6-km trekking path. I plan myself accordingly and set off.