Laguna Torre and Maestri Overlook

November 12

Today is a solo hike to Laguna Torre and Maestri Overlook. For this hike, I am able to literally walk out of my hostel and through town less than 1/2 mile to step on the trailhead. The city has put in a large stairway and ramp going up the hillside from the lower town section to the upper section where the trailhead is.

I quickly climb away from town into the mountains with impressive canyons all around.

Soon I have an unobstructed view of the river down below.

I take some steep steps up, there’s a chain bolted to the rocks along side of the trail for those who need extra help. Once at the top I arrive at Mirador Cascada Margarita. it is an overlook to a cascading waterfall on the other side of the valley that goes from the top all the way to the river.

The trail flattens and widens a little with beautiful flowers along side.

We soon begin climbing again through a little more heavily wooded area. There’s a beautiful stream along side of the trail.

We reached at the top of a saddle and arrive at Mirador Cerro Torre. We have beautiful views of the valley with the large mountains at its end.

We begin another downhill desent, past a small lake, and into a wide open valley floor.

We have a wide-open views in all directions. The mountains we are hiking towards looks to have a glacier visible in its valley.

The trail turns towards the river that we saw earlier at the base of the waterfall viewpoint. The water looks to be dirty however this is from glacial melt. As the glaciers slowly slide down the mountain, they grind up rock into a fine powder, which is suspended in the water, giving it this color.

We continue along a rocky trail again slowly rising towards the lake. Beautiful mountains with snow melt waterfalls are on either side.

I arrive at Laguna Torre. I have an elevated view of lake with its icebergs at the end. Stunningly beautiful.

I have hiked down to the lakes edge and pose for some iceberg pictures. 

Mountains, waterfalls, iceberg, lakes, and a glacier all in one viewing the beauty is amazing.

I climbed back up to the overlook and continue along the lakeside towards the glacier, where there is an overlook for it named Mirador Maestri.

Looking down to the glaciers edge, there are many more icebergs, waiting to float into the lake.

The trail terminates at this location, and after a short rest, I turn around and head back, admiring the lagoons icebergs one last time. 

On the way up, I came to a trail junction and went left. My hiking trail app started telling me I was off trail. I checked the map and saw that there were two ways to go. I had followed the sign to the lake. The other direction takes you through a campground before eventually meeting up with the trail again I am taking the, other way back down. I’m glad I went the direction I did as this route is much steeper however I am going downhill in this direction. I cross a stream on a small bridge and go by the established campground before returning to the main trail at the junction. 

I stopped at a small creek on the hillside for some more water. I drank a full liter and filled up my bottle for the rest of the way down. Soon, I am walking back through town and arrive at my hostel. Time for a hot shower. 14.4 miles today with 2227 foot elevation gain.