My experience walking on the Glaciar Perito Moreno

April 3, 2021April 30, 2021
by dwaisman

I am going to address failure and attempt to describe an experience like no other. It’s like one of those journeys that cannot be explained or shared without the real thing. Like a bike ride, a realization, or an epiphany.

Many people visit the Glaciar Perito Moreno every year. I imagine that a little less so during this 2020-21 world pandemic. Nevertheless, to fully experience what it’s like, you need to get closer. A lot of people simply observe its colors and forms through the comfort of the platform sections overlooking the ice giant. That is a great way to admire it, but I do think that just a glimpse of its grandiose.

Trek on the Glaciar Perito Moreno, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Santa Cruz, Argentina

Walking on the glacier makes you feel small. It reminded me how vast it is.

We started our journey early in the morning at the port site of the park. We quickly crossed the lake and commenced our ascent bordering the ice. At about 25min of walking, we found good access to the ice. Everyone got their crampons on and slowly proceeded to find a route towards the center of the corridor. No picture can really express what this looks and feels like. As stated before, I’m describing my experience knowing too well how flawed this might turn up to be.

In my last November visit, we saw multiple ice lagoons on top of the melting ice sheets. The colors of the scene create a quite pretty contrast between the bright turquoise water, the ice sheets which are reflected with the blue skies.

After a few hours of walking, we stopped to enjoy our lunch (oh, by the way, you need to bring your own. No working vending machines inside the glacier) I can say without a doubt, that it was one of the most spectacular views I ever shared during lunch. Once we were done, we set everything up to resume our trekking and return to camp. As always in any park, we were very careful not to leave any trash behind.

The return was easier than the initial walk. We walk on the edges of the glacier towards the small camp where we shared some hot cocoa and coffee. After the small break, we embarked once again to cross the lake and to finish the adventure.