Group Dynamics Patagonia

March 22, 2013 17 Comments »

Hiking pictures
Hiking to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado

I looked around the table and wondered – how did this happen? How is it that at 43 I’m the youngest one on this hiking trip AND I’ve got the dullest stories? For the first time in my travels, my travel and adventure experiences are overshadowed by the people around me. I eagerly ask them questions, hang on their every word and wonder if I would ever have the ability or guts to accomplish what they have done.

The tables have been turned.

I was expecting my 7-day Argentina hiking and glacier trekking itinerary from Adventure Life to be full of excitement and challenge. After all, my itinerary included four days of hiking in the mountains, two nights of camping, hiking on glaciers, boat rides, and estancias. But I didn’t expect one of the highlights to be the people I was traveling with. I love traveling solo, but I’m not a fan of hiking solo – so I was excited to be a part of a small group for hiking – however, you never really know what you are going to get with groups like this. The great thing about trekking adventure groups is that they usually attract some pretty hard-core people, and I hit the jackpot with this group! We started as strangers not more than a few days ago – and now we are friends after hiking for miles and miles, camping, and having long discussions over beers.

group hike
The whole gang on the Viedma Glacier

My companions had achieved such things as skiing across the Greenland icecap for five weeks, living in remote Africa, daring canoe trips, ice climbing, and one of the men had even climbed Everest…yes, Everest. Every story that came out of their mouths I was glued to – and every one of them was older than me – by at least a decade. They were grandmothers and parents – they were all retired and having the time of their lives. They were hearty and fearless, and they were excellent role models for me.

As expected, the hikes around El Chalten were wonderful, scenic, and definitely challenging. We hiked the area for four days, camping for two nights in a semi-permanent campground, staying for one night at Hosteria El Pillar, and staying one night in El Chalten. The four days provided me with an amazing landscape of photography, which took my mind off of my sore muscles! Not only did I love the scenery and the photographic opportunities, but I also loved the company I was with – and that’s what makes a trip memorable.

See my Essential Hiking Gear List

Now that you’ve chosen a hike, you need to know what gear to take with you! Don’t leave on your hike without these hiking gear essentials.!

Where have you met cool people during your travels that you looked up to?

Argentina pictures
Hiking Trail to Fitz Roy
Patagonia photos
Laguna de Los Tres
hiking pictures
The trail towards Fitz Roy parallel to the Rio Blanco
hiking pictures
Climbers descending down the ice after climbing Fitz Roy – they look so small!
Argentina pictures
Hiking around a dense southern beech forest towards camp.
Patagonia pictures
Campsite on Lake Capri with Fitz Roy in the distance
hiking photos
Hiking up the moraine to the Fitz Roy viewing point
Patagonia pictures
A great place to contemplate life.
Patagonia photos
Leaving the mountains behind and heading to El Chalten.
hiking pictures
A desolate stretch on our way to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
Fitz Roy pictures
I can never get enough of Fitz Roy. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to actually climb it!

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!

patagonia adventure

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