In honour of throwback Thursday, let me re-introduce you to the uncensored version of the Torres del Paine hike James and I did in Patagonia last year right before the trails closed (brace yourself, winter is coming). James had been planning it for a while but it was a spur of the moment thing for me. A week earlier in Buenos Aires (10 minutes after we first met) he asked me if I wanted to do the W-trek together (I'd never heard of it) so naturally I just blurted out 'yeah sure!'- not even knowing what I agreed to. Not my most intellectual moment ever, but I'm so happy I did! We were well prepared: attended a prep meeting in Chile, had all the right gear, were in pretty good shape (I'd also spent a day walking on Glacier Perito Moreno, secretly just to make sure I could keep up with James) and I even knew what to do in case of a puma attack (but that's a different story). We just didn't expect it to, you know, SNOW. These are some of the thoughts that went through my head while hiking, I narrowed it down to 66 of them. Yes, I did a lot of thinking/cursing/complaining that week...
1. So excited to wear my new gear. Love my jacket, 'wind resistant'.
2. No wind yet but nevertheless sooo excited.
3. Even more excited to wear my new gloves. Water resistant!
4. No sign of rain yet but I'll wear them anyway.
5. I just love the Northface, their stuff is so comfy.
6. I look like a pro. I feel like a pro. I AM A PRO.
7. Wait, why is everybody dressed in the Northface?
8. Pfff.
9. Oh my god oh my god oh my god we're actually doing this.
10. I have sooo many emotions right now...
11. ...How did I end up in Chile?
12. Okay we started walking. Getting used to the pace. And the backpack. And my shoes. I've got this.
13. 'The hiiills are aliiive with the sound of music'. What Would Julie Do? Probably not hike in Chile.
14. Oh my look at that little cloud! IT'S SO FLUFFY!
15. Rain.
16. My glove are not water resistant, neither is the rest of my outfit. Thanks, Northface. You're overrated.
17. I'm fine. I'm soaked- but I'm fine.
18. I'm Dutch, rain means nothing to me. NOTHING, YOU HEAR ME?! (shakes fist to imaginary weathergods)
19. I don't care about the rain or the freezing wind. I'm fine, really...
1. So excited to wear my new gear. Love my jacket, 'wind resistant'.
2. No wind yet but nevertheless sooo excited.
3. Even more excited to wear my new gloves. Water resistant!
4. No sign of rain yet but I'll wear them anyway.
5. I just love the Northface, their stuff is so comfy.
6. I look like a pro. I feel like a pro. I AM A PRO.
7. Wait, why is everybody dressed in the Northface?
8. Pfff.
9. Oh my god oh my god oh my god we're actually doing this.
10. I have sooo many emotions right now...
11. ...How did I end up in Chile?
12. Okay we started walking. Getting used to the pace. And the backpack. And my shoes. I've got this.
13. 'The hiiills are aliiive with the sound of music'. What Would Julie Do? Probably not hike in Chile.
14. Oh my look at that little cloud! IT'S SO FLUFFY!
15. Rain.
16. My glove are not water resistant, neither is the rest of my outfit. Thanks, Northface. You're overrated.
17. I'm fine. I'm soaked- but I'm fine.
18. I'm Dutch, rain means nothing to me. NOTHING, YOU HEAR ME?! (shakes fist to imaginary weathergods)
19. I don't care about the rain or the freezing wind. I'm fine, really...