Suitcase and World: Torres del Paine. Salto Grande.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Torres del Paine. Salto Grande.


There are several waterfalls within the boundaries of Torres del Paine National Park and we got to see one on our way out of the park.  Salto Grande is by no means a large waterfall.  In fact, it's a bit small but what makes is special is the force at which the water rages down the rocks.

The water that feeds Salto Grande comes from Lago Nordenskjöld and is funneled into a narrow chute which results in the powerful flow of water.   I could hear the water long before I saw it.

It was a short uphill hike from where Alex parked our van to reach the falls.


Looking to my right, I saw the familiar peaks of Cuernos del Paine.  By now, I am easily recognizing the peaks of the Torres del Paine massif :-)



To my left was a view of the waters of Lago Pehoé. The strikingly beautiful green color of the water comes from sediments carried down with the melting of glacier ice.


I was so captivated by the scenery all around me, I didn't even notice how far I lagged behind everyone else.  I scooted a bit to catch up with them but I was really in no rush to escape the views.



But then I caught a glimpse of Salto Grande and I picked up my pace to join up with the others.


Standing on the platform, this is the view I gazed out at.   Wow!


Salto Grande flows into Lago Pehoé.  It's incredible how much of a thunderous roar the water made as it rushed down the rocks to the lake.  It's not a big waterfall but it's sure loud!




I caught a rainbow!



The same path that brought me up to Salto Grande continues along the water towards Cuernos del Paine.   I wanted to get a full view of the mountain group so I didn't walk much further than the platform at Salto Grande.


I did walk in another direction just for an amazing view of Monte Almirante Nieto.  The clouds had finally moved on and the craggy peaks were in full view.


This was a great spot to see the entire Torres del Paine massif.  It's times like this that I wish I had a really, really wide angle lens!

In the photo below, from left to right, you can see the smaller peaks of Aleta del Tiburón, Los Gemelos Hill, Trono Blanco,  the three peaks of Cuernos del Paine (North Horn, Main Horn, and East Horn), and Monte Almirante Nieto.  Unbelievably scenic!


It wasn't until I got back to our room and previewed the photo below that it finally dawned on me that I did get to see the Towers of Blue!


Can you tell it was windy?  I should've taken a second shot....with his hair in proper place :-)

I tried to linger in this one spot for as long as I could because Gustavo said this would be to see the massif from this view point.  Thank God I took as many photos as I did because I will truly miss seeing this vista.  I've run out of superlatives to describe it.  It's just mindblowing!


Onward to a laguna!