Torres del Paine closed
Replies: 195 - Last Post: May 20, 2012 11:55 AM Last Post By: vnrose
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I am doing the W Circuit beginning in mid February. We are staying at Refugios. We wer suppose to spend the last night at grande Paine. It seems that will be closed. Is there anypnace else to stay (if we are not camping)? We are coming from the direction of the French Valley, were going to stay at Grande Paine and then go to Glacier Grey viewing and then come back at catamaran out. Is there any other way to see that area? Are we missing much if we cannot go there?Any ideas on how to restructure if we cannot finish the circuit. We are going to do a 2 day (1 night ) kayak out of the park with a guide. It was suggested that if we cannot finish the circuit we should extend the kayaking to 2 nights and go to Tyndall Glacier. Is that worth it?
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We are also planning on camping along the circuit...arriving feb 12. I'm starting to feel a bit better about being able go all the way 'round by then. Thanks for the info srnunez...please keep it coming!!Has there been any more said about the guide requirement? My understanding is that CONAF and the govt agencies are all saying different things......
96
Hmmm, never made it to Valle de France due to driving snow storm, but hear it is incredible Alpine scenery; but, the Grey Glaciar spilling out on the lake is incredible too. Why not spend an extra night at Cuernos to do Valle de France as a day trip from there? You may be able to juggle your reservations, as I expect many people have cancelled their trips there.97
My friend & I have been planning to hike the circuit starting Jan 26-27. Any idea if it will be open then? Any idea if the W (or at least most of the W http://ie. the french valley) will be open then? Are there any recommendations for an alternative 9-10 day hike in the area?We're waiting to hear from anyone whose hike the area recently.
Thanks for all the great updates.
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The hike from Los Cuernos to Refugio Grey is about 8 hours according to the book that means with a heavy backpack, if you are going light it can be done in less. To enter the French Valley what is generally done is to hike about one hour after the Italiano Camp and you would get to plateau of it, most of the guided hikes are until there.I recommend to inmediatly change the booking from Paine Grande to the New Refugio Grey, and return on time to catch the catamaran.
There is no obligation to hire a guide to hike into the park.
The area of the french valley is closed so there are any hikers in that area....
The news say that probably there are going to be good news in the following days. I would keep you posted.
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Sergio knows a lot more than me about TdP, but from my experience, doing Los Cuernos to Refugio Grey in 8 hours with a heavy backpack would really be pushing it. This from somebody that was passing more people than who passed me with heavy backpacks.I find that the estimated times on the official park map are just estimations, and often are more applicable for inform hikers without big packs. Remember that some of the people that post here, and most park wardens, tend to be really in form.
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How long does it take to trek from Refugio Torres Central to Los Cuernos? Possible to do that and do the French Valley day hike in the same day? The go to Refugio Grey the next day? Or is that way too long.Our trip begins on Feb 24 when we were going to hike to Base Los Torres
We need to be done with the W Circuit by end of the day on Feb 27 because we start kayaking early on the 28th. Trying to figure out how to fit things in due to fire.
Original Itinerary was
DAY 2 February 24
07:00 am Regular bus from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park
Hike to Base Las Torres
Night in Refugio Torres Central
DAY 3 February 25
Trekking to Los Cuernos
Night in refugio Los Cuernos
DAY 4 February 26
Trekking to French Valley
Refugio Paine Grande lodge
DAY 5 February 27
Trekking to Grey Viewer
Catamaran to Pudeto
Transfer from Pudeto To Tyndall Hosteria
Night in Tyndall Hosteria
DAY 6 February 28
First day of kayaking
Any suggestions? Thanks.
101
@newman How you are going light, probably without tent and food, if you still want to see Grey Glaciar you would have to go straight from los Cuernos to Refugio Grey. It's true that it would be a long day between 8-9 hours.. but this means.. with pictures.. eating.. water.. taking a break..not walking all the time.. the only recommendation that have early start and dinner starts at 19:00 in Refugio Grey if you have it booked and paided.Anyway... as Lodge Paine Grande is going to be close.. many people is going to do directly from Los Cuernos To Refugio Grey..early start.. hoping for blues skies and a big smile!
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I just came out of a 4 day hike in TDP.Originally planned to do the Circuit starting Jan 4 - then they announce the park woul be closed for all of Jan. Plan B ended up doing Chalten and Calafate. I had 4 days left and went back to TDP.
As of today you can only do Serron, Dickson and Perros. You can go up Valley Ascencio to Ref Chileno and to the Base de las Torres and you can go to Cuernos. They will not let you continue after Cuernos or Perros. Also, the access to the Pudeto Caramaran is closed at the entrance of the park.
If it was not for these restrictions you would never know there is a fire. My concerns about smoke where unfounded. Also, the park is pretty crowded ( from wat I heatd in Natales, the locales have not been impacted. This might not be true for tour operators/ guides and the impacted hotels and lodges.
Weather was fenomenal - take sunscreen!
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@newman70No problem the questions.
The park is open only for vehicle transit.
It seems that is going to be open only until Italiano & Britanico Camp. IT seems that only French and Asencio Valley are going to be open the rest of the summer.
The president is going to Antartica this days.. after that we would now.
