Comments on: Day 26 – El Calafate and Glacier Perito Moreno Ice Trecking

By: Lawrence

Lawrence — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 23:39:06 +0000

Choose your gear with maximum care. No need to look into expensive stores but be sure to get yourself thermal underwear, waterproof pants, hiking/trekking shoes, waterproof backpack, and all sorts of comfortable polar accessories such as gloves, beanies etc and you’re ready to have fun!!! Remember to wear bright colours for memorable pictures. Ohh and don’t hesitate to indulge into a very nice reflex camera with a good zoom. El Calafate and the Perito Moreno glacier are all worth it. I got back 2 days ago and i will definitely remember this trip forever.

By: Jean Migdal

Jean Migdal — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:30:40 +0000

Hi,

The information about layering you’ve provided is very helpful as I’m doing the mini trek mid-April. I would like to get your opinion on shoes for those crampons. Is it necessary to wear a hiking boot that comes up over the ankle (mid size)? I’m wondering whether a trail shoe (North Face) would work with the crampons and the trek. They are waterproof but are cut lower, more like a sneaker. They are very sturdy and comfortable. I’d like to use them, but wonder about how they would work with the crampons and the rigor-ness of trekking on the ice.

This one is for your wife and is about layering: I have a down vest and wonder whether that would be too heavy of a layer to wear for the trek. I’ll have a base layer, merino wool, then another warm pant layer and then over that a windproof, water resistant pant. On top, base merino layer, capilene layer then perhaps a shirt and then a merino type wik jacket underneath a waterproof shell. Like you, I’m on the petite side and get really cold!

Thank you both, your comments and details about your trip are great!!!

~ Jean

By: Photos uploaded

Photos uploaded — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:33:49 +0000

[...] Day 26 – El Calafate and Glacier Perito Moreno Ice Trecking [...]

By: Rachel Barenblat

Rachel Barenblat — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:39:36 +0000

I read this post in preparation for our own mini-trek experience, and wanted to thank you for it; it was tremendously helpful! (If you're curious, here's my account of our day on the ice...)

By: Sim'

Sim' — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:25:35 +0000

Hi Laura,

We were there in the middle of summer and it was a very wet day – quite cold. It was even colder on the ice.

I strongly suggest some type of waterproof shoes if you have them – although the crampons will lift your feet up off the ice, you do tend to get a lot of ice flying around as the crampons dig in when you walk.

We wore thermal pants and tops under our clothes to help keep us warm, and gloves and beanies for the hands and head.

So we had basically two layers on the bottom – thermals and then quick drying travel pants on the outside, and three layers on the top, thermals, mid layer, and waterproof layer (I think my wife may have worn an additional base layer as well). Layers are good if you can remove them easily – although it’s not that easy to do once you are out on the ice.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:53:58 +0000

was happy to stumble upon your website as I have no idea what to wear on the mini-trek and am wondering if you can give me an idea of just how many layers you would advise to wear under waterproof clothing and what kind of shoes you think are best. I tend to be really cold and though the forecast says it’s 50 (Fahrenheit) in El Calafate, I’m sure that standing on a glacier all day cannot feel like 50 degrees!

Thank you!

By: Sim'

Sim' — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:10:28 +0000

Hi Heather,

We booked the mini trekking directly through Hielo Y Aventura, who have an office on the main street of El Calafate – http://www.hieloyaventura.com/hieloaventura/index-eng.asp

We stayed at the MarcoPolo Inn, which is a little bit out of town – but then, most of the hostels are. No problem though, since the tour companies pick you up from wherever you are staying!

We got back into town around 7pm or so – so in theory you could get a 9pm flight I guess … bit of a risk in my opinion though.

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:38:53 +0000

Came across your website and have a question for you…I plan to do the mini-trek in 2 weeks. Which tour agency did you go through to book it and where did you stay? Also, is it feasible to do it on the day that I have a 9pm flight out that night?

Any help is appreciated

By: Bill and Jill

Bill and Jill — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:21:23 +0000

We are back at the library checking you blog.
It is often 5 degrees in this part of the world.
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time.