As someone who loves warm weather and sun beating on my face, its astonishing that I’ve spent so much time in the past two years in cold weather climates. From Paris in the dead of winter and Estonia and Lithuania in the cool and damp spring to Canada’s Arctic to hang with polar bears, and then Iceland for five weeks this year, I suddenly found myself in Chile’s Patagonia this fall doing more than one glacier hike – snowy icy glacier hikes that is.
I was invited down to the annual travel EXPO in southern Chile, an annual event where tour operators, vendors, resort owners, adventure guides and others in the travel industry come to share ideas, cross pollinate and promote the best of what they have to offer. Chile has no shortage of places to explore — winter or summer — and its glaciers are a wonder to see, whether on foot or viewing them from a ship on Chile’s cool waters.
We took small Zodiac boats from our ship (set sail in Punta Arenas and disembarked in Puerto Natales) to land where we hiked to Bernal Glacier.
When we arrived, there were flags planted in the ground perched up on a small mound just in case any of its visitors forgot what continent they were on or whose rightful land they were hiking across.
Up close, the ice is pristine in every way you’d expect the natural surroundings of Patagonia to be: Blue. Crystal. Clear. Cold.
Imagine glaciers amidst turquoise water surrounded by silt and sand-like sediment of the lakebed with not a soul around.
Hiking out to the glacier itself and experiencing its grandeur wasn’t the only icing on the cake, pun most definitely intended. Along the way, the fauna, the neon green moss, the abundance of lichen and the vibrant colors interwoven into the rocks along the unbeaten paths were all part of the wondrous taking. It was hard not to feel gratitude every step of the way the beauty and serenity was so breathtaking.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a soft spot for rocks, especially colored odd shaped ones. I could marvel at and play with them for hours. If you’re a rock lover, Patagonia is an ever so sweet playground!
Crystal green waters surrounds the glacier’s and rock’s edge.
Up close, you were reminded that you’re not in Kansas anymore and even if you grew up with snow and ice, there is something so pure about Chile’s glaciers that I allowed myself silence with it and it alone before making my way back to the boat.
And, I always (always) recommend seeing a site from upside down, regardless of how hard it is to accomplish such a task. Lying directly on the soil of the place that so moves you does wonders for your spirit and gives you a different perspective on the place, especially if you give “it” time and listen to “its” energy.
Have a listen to what our guide had to say about the area during our hike:
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
