The W trek is a 4 to 5-day trek in Torres Del Paine Park covering approximately 50 miles. It’s the most popular route in the park and it’s named for the shape of the route.

I found the route challenging – physically and mentally. What I love about hiking is that it is a form of exercise, AND it allows me uninterrupted time to think and meditate on life. For me – hiking is about finding new paths in my brain and exploring new thoughts – sometimes positive and sometimes negative. I thought a lot about the W as I hiked – the shape, the landscape, the physical demand, and the mental demand. I most definitely struggled, but in my struggle, I thought about what the W meant to me.

W is for…

Wide open spaces where horses roam.

Wobbly bridges that sway back and forth and up and down with each step.

Wind that appears with no warning and practically pushes you over.

Wings of a condor gliding high above me.

Waiting to catch my breath as we climb up to the French Valley viewpoint.

White-capped peaks surround me.

Woods where I can hide from the intense sun and find some relief.

Waves are formed from the powerful gusts blowing off the mountains and through the valleys. Enough to form ocean-like white caps on the lakes.

Wildlife whom we share the trail with.

Wet feet and Band-Aids that won’t stay on my sweaty blisters.

Weak knees, which require a cold shower every night to keep them happy.

Warm Weather – unseasonably warm as we climb to Los Torres in an unheard-of 80+ degrees.

Wandering – my mind dives deep into the cracks of my confidence and pries the cracks further apart.

Wimpy – how I feel as I bring up the rear of our hiking group, constantly gasping for air and wondering where all of my fitness has gone.

Will you let me carry your bag? Asks Claudio. No, my ridiculous pride makes me insist on carrying what I have brought. Claudio looks like a rejected little puppy.

Watching person after person pass me, heading upwards to Los Torres.

Wrestling – with myself as my mind goes to battle with all of my insecurities – age, fitness, and confidence.

What if… what if I simply believed that I was a strong 42-year-old woman?

THIS

Disclosure: Adventure Life hosted my Patagonia travels. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own – as you know, I love to speak my mind!