three more days until stef and i begin our patagonian backpacking trek! our itinerary:

we begin at the island of tierra del fuego, the southernmost tip of the americas, where we will hike the region's bays, rivers, and coastal forests, with a possible stop by some penguin colonies (it's hatching season). from there, we'll move up the andean spine to parque nacional torres del paine. the park is known for its sheer granite peaks, brilliant blue lakes, powerful winds, and unique wildlife. after a camping along its five-day circuit, we will cross the border to el calafate, argentina, and spend a few days in nearby glacier parks, visiting one of the world's largest active continental glaciers: the magnicificent calving "el perito."

after the southern leg of this trip, i will immediately head to the north of chile, where the atacama desert hosts an entirely different experience. desolate martian landscapes, boiling geyser fields, colorful altiplano lagunas, vast salt flats and the like. is there an ecosystem that this country doesn't have? anyway...more on those plans later. gotta start packing...