fellow snowshoers

Hi,

This is my first post on this forum, greetings from Poland :-).

I noticed that most people here talk about hiking in North America, however I'm going to take my chance and ask if someone is going or has ever gone to the far south, Patagonia.

This July I'm landing there with all my gear and I'm looking forward to some long great snowshoeing trips. I'm going to visit El Chalten areas, Torres del Paine and Ushuaia areas.

First of all I want to ask if any of you has been there in the winter and can share some information with me. Or maybe someone is going there soon and we may come up together with something? If you know any such people or know where to look for them (other forums?) I'd also like to hear from you.

Thanks and happy trips,
Michal

Welcome Michal to the forum, you've come to the right place. Let me know what info in particular you are looking for? I have no idea of your Winter camping experince level, hopefully you are proficient because it's pretty desolaate down there and you are on your own for the msot part.

I spent time in Antartica quite afew years ago, and was in patagonia for 3months myself. Beautiful, austere place IME. It is the granduer of it all that will encompass your mind and make you remeber the places you are travelling to. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for your reply!

I'm not proficient in winter camping, but I've camped about 10 times in winter in the mountains, I have the right gear and know how to use it.

The info I'm looking for is particularly the weather: the temps, the amount of snow, avalanche danger and which treks to choose to avoid it.

If you've camped there in the winter, I'd be interested in which trips you've done, the conditions you encountered, etc.

Michal,

It's been almost 10 years, and as we all have seen the weather around the World has changed pretty dramatically. You'd be best to gather your weather info off of an internet weather only site, specific to your area(s) of interest IME.

I did not snowshoe or ski when there just backpacked and camped. Your Winter excursion will be much differentt than my experience and you would do well to read over the posts in the Winter Forum. They can give you more timely info on Winter technique, as i have done little of that in the past few years. Best to get the advice of those current on such a topic.

Check out this thread on another light weight site. It's got references to a number of folks who've visited Patagonia and various gear suggestions etc.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/13219/index.html
Also, your thread heading really doesn't convey what you're looking for. I'd suggest you might want to make a similar post in the Trip Plans part of the forum with a heading that includes a reference to Patagonia. I suspect you'll get more responses. Also, you might try the search function on this site. I think there have been some threads on Patagonia travelling that might be helpful.
good luck,
Gerry Magnes
Schenectady, NY

Recent volcanic activity down there will have abearing on your trip plans, if you are leaving in the near future. Read up!

Czesc Michal. Jak sie mas? Nice to see someone from Poland, it has been a while since I was there. Can't really help you on Patagonia, never been there, przyprasm. Earthlings advice is pretty sound though.

I went to your site, and it looks like you have already gone. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I guess you have taken the trip, so it would be nice if you had some report of the conditions you had down south.

Since we are approaching the winter soon, I may suggest for you (and others of course) to take a look at Norway for winter trips. We do mostly skiing here, but it is no problem to use snowshoes if you like that.

Norway and Sweden enjoys the "all mens right" meaning you may camp wherever you want except on farmed land, and close into buildings. But we have a lot of nice huts that are not very expensive. Some are even free of charge. This makes a tour more enjoyable, as well as safer. The huts are so close to each other that there is no problem to walk hut-to-hut for weeks. Btw this is the most popular way of hiking here in Norway.

I know that Norway is expensive for most people from the east Europe. But the trip to get here is shorter than south America, so maybe it will be cheaper anyway. The season starts in February, it is too dark and cold before that.

/Otto

Hi Michal and welcome. You may also wish to post your question on the forums at www.trailspace.com A poster named BillS has been nearly everywhere on the planet at one time or another and may be able to give you some advice.

Good one Alan. I think you're right, almost every time some asks a question about somewere, Bill's been there. I think he was in Patagonia on his way to Antarctica.

Tom D
What you don't know about Bill S can't hurt you, except in my case it created a broken leg - mine. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
A very wise man...
Bill S
Jim S
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hmm, Don't think I've heard that story. Sounds like a climbing accident. I am always amazed at how much he knows and where he's been.