Page 46 - Masala E-magazine Vol 9 Issue 5 April - May 2018

TRAVEL

Preparation

In order to prepare for our hike, we needed to purchase a
two-man tent, two sleeping mats, two sleeping bags, gas
canisters, cooking gear, camping cutlery, a portable water
filter, water bottles and sufficient food to last us nine days.
All this, including our hiking gear, had to fit in our backpacks,
which meant we were each carrying approximately 17 to
20kgs (about 40 percent of my body weight) on our backs,
while hiking the mountainous terrain. Most importantly, we
needed to figure out exactly which route to take and how
to navigate to the designated camp sites. Not getting lost
would be our key to survival!

Needless to say, the O-Circuit was the most mentally,
physically and emotionally demanding adventure I have ever
embarked upon. Patagonia at its truest form will inspire you,
overwhelm you, take your breath away, show you the power of
nature and break you with it.

“ Most days gave us all four

seasons to grapple with, in

the span of minutes. “

Conquering the Peaks of Patagonia
We had bruised hips, stiff necks, blistered feet, dark circles
under our eyes, pain and soreness all over. There were days
where we hiked in pouring rain with heavy winds of up to
100km per hour, and we were wet and freezing from head to
toe. The kind of winds that were so powerful, they broke our
aluminum tent poll in half, sending the broken part directly
through our waterproof tent. There were also days where we
hiked in the scorching sun, left in awe by the majestic views
of never-ending mountain ranges, glacier lakes and ice fields.
There were even days where we built our tent while it was
snowing, and bundled ourselves in over six layers just to keep
warm at night, as the temperatures crawled down to the
negatives. But most days gave us all four seasons to grapple
with in the span of minutes.

We hopped on rocks across massive waterfalls, walked
through deep forest muds, hanging bridges, ice, and
snow, along exposed cliffs. The uphill climb was steep and
unforgiving. There was this one day in particular we were
dreading, the day we had to cross the infamous John Gardner
Pass. Breathless, yet relentless, we forced ourselves over
the snow-capped mountain pass. A 1,200m ascend packed
into a short 2,500m distance. Nothing could quite prepare
us for that brutal ascend, or our fight to hold our ground up
against those winds. We were rewarded by splendid views of
hundreds of acres of ice fields as far as the eye could see.

46 Masala Magazine
APRIL - MAY 2018