stomach as I scramble outside to view the damp mist steeling about the campground trees . I am hard pressed to see the refugio only 30 meters away .
The refugio cook is less than optimistic . “ Not today ,” he says eyeing the weather . But even so , we wait before giving the ‘ OK ’ to radio ahead and book our bus seat out of the park . I had resigned myself to missing ‘ the towers ’, had convinced myself that it isn ’ t always best to have a perfect ending when suddenly a fellow trekker Siegfried exclaims , “ Hey wow , check out all that blue sky , I think it will clear !”
We are all on the track within half an hour . The chance of seeing anything is still up for debate but I feel better for trying . “ One hour , no five minutes , hell - even just a few moments ,” I implore the clouds as we begin to climb .
You ’ ve got to wonder if there ’ s some omnipotent power that ordains ‘ yes ’ or ‘ no ’. For just as we reach the lookout , the sun breaks out through the clouds behind us , sending ribbons of light and shade racing across the ice strewn lake below , across the water-streaked cliffs above and there they are , the majestic peaks of Torres del Paine …
There was hardly a moment to spare in wonder before the need to capture their beauty on film was paramount . Four shots and already the clouds begin to close in , are once again drawing the curtains on my few short moments , on the unforgettable highlight of Torres del Paine National Park .
TRAVEL OFTEN . LIVE WELL . 27