We could not have asked for better conditions that morning. Getting up super early in the AM to catch the sunrise, we hoped there would be no clouds. The forecast the night before called for clear skies, so our fingers were crossed. We knew of this location from the first day we drove by it and instantly knew we had to get back there. This is right on Lake Pehoe, from a little spit of an island that has a hotel on it called Hosteria Pehoe. It is such a tiny island that there is only a small footbridge to get over to it. My buddy and I were setup along the shore the whole morning, when a guest at the hotel was making her way over the bridge to her car. She told us there was an amazing view on the island that gives you an gorgeous panoramic view of the mountain range. Man oh man she wasn’t kidding! Not only was the sky clear as day, but the howling high winds we experienced mostly every day in Patagonia, were nonexistent. This made for a silky smooth surface with a perfect reflection. It was as if even the fish underneath and potential birds landing on the surface, knew we were here, taking pause for us to grab this shot. Hosteria Pehoe, Torres de Paine, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile Google Maps Location photo was taken from: https://goo.gl/B0xw5f
Peggotty Bluff in King Haakon Bay, our first day on land in South Georgia, was a nippy 28 degrees Fahrenheit. But that wouldn’t stop us from going onshore to get our first view of king penguins, elephant and fur seals. Behind us, the tallest peak obscured slightly in clouds, is the 4,000ft peak of Mount Cunningham. And then three glaciers, two which have receded up the peaks, and the other on the far left coming down from the Murray Snowfield. At the opening of King Haakon Bay, Cave Cove on Cape Rosa, is where Ernest Shackleton and his men first set foot on South Georgia, from their epic 800 mile journey across the Atlantic from Elephant Island. This my friends, was in a 22.5 foot sailboat, on open ocean water in the winter. I repeat, a 22.5ft sailboat, open ocean water, winter time, the Southern Atlantic Ocean of dead winter, no GPS, only wet drenched maps, and barely any food or water. And we thought we were cold, bundled up in multiple layers of clothes with wind/waterproof jacket and pants. Peggotty Bluff at King Haakon Bay, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Google Maps Location photo was taken from: 54°8'45.065" S 37°16'58.805" W
All along the barren expanse of Highway 23 leading into El Chalten, you slowly start to get teased with seeing the tip top of Mount Fitzroy. And that's really dependent on weather conditions, for most of the time clouds are hiding this majestic beauty. On this day driving in, the clouds just parted way to show her off. I immediately pulled over and somewhat risked life and limb to get this shot. Not only did the road rise upwards behind me, obscuring any view of oncoming traffic, the 60-70mph winds blocked out any sound of cars and the speed limit was pretty much non-existent here. Getting my settings set curbside, I would run out quickly, plop my camera on its tripod in the middle and fire off a burst of shots, and haul ass back. I was pleasantly surprised on how it turned out, considering the rush I was in the whole time.
