El Chalten, Los Glaciares National Park Photography, Argentina

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El Chalten/Los Glaciares National Park in autumn had the biggest shots concentrated in a small area that I’ve photographed. The weather was a difficult; it was either bluebird skies with no clouds, or peaks that were shrouded by clouds. Even that was fairly lucky as the area is often ravaged by winds, or completely socked in.  I still came away with some nice keepers. Photographers are always torn between returning to the same spot to catch the best conditions, or covering ground to explore an area. Since this was my first time to Patagonia I didn’t want to burn precious days in the same locations. As a result, I didn’t leave with as many keepers, but I got to see a lot more.

I strongly recommend doing a backpacking circuit around El Chalten rather than day hikes from town.  From town, most shots are too far to reach by sunrise compared to the easy access when camping.  The trails around Los Glaciares are relatively easy (compared to Colorado anyway).  Regardless of which trail you enter the park, your journey will begin with a somewhat strenuous hike uphill. Then you’ll be on a flat plateau at the base of the Fitz Roy massif where the trails between camp sites are flat and easy.  The distances between camp sites averages only 5 miles. Some of the side hikes to lakes are steep and challenging, especially to Laguna de los Tres. Mt. Fitz Roy is the backdrop no matter where you are on the main trails.  It faces east, so shots are all generally sunrise.