PADDLER 70
Words & photos : Mathew Schweizer Instagram @ Mathew _ Schweizer
Patagonia is a wild area , from the vast lakes of Alerce Andino to the soaring mountains of Torres del Paine . There are 17 National Parks in Patagonia , and it is a 1,800-mile stretch of land , water and ice like no other . The weather is usually harsh in the form of howling winds , pouring rain and freezing temperatures . It ’ s the perfect place for hearty adventures . It was in this untamed wilderness that Andy and I first crossed paths , working as kayak guides in Torres del Paine and Bernardo O ’ Higgins National Parks . Inspired by our surroundings , we embarked on our first Patagonian sea kayak expedition , aiming for Grand Campo Nevada , a massive ice field flowing into the western fjords northwest of Punta Arenas .
PADDLER 70
CON LA POSITIVA – A
PATAGONIAN
ADVENTURE
Words & photos : Mathew Schweizer Instagram @ Mathew _ Schweizer
Patagonia is a wild area , from the vast lakes of Alerce Andino to the soaring mountains of Torres del Paine . There are 17 National Parks in Patagonia , and it is a 1,800-mile stretch of land , water and ice like no other . The weather is usually harsh in the form of howling winds , pouring rain and freezing temperatures . It ’ s the perfect place for hearty adventures . It was in this untamed wilderness that Andy and I first crossed paths , working as kayak guides in Torres del Paine and Bernardo O ’ Higgins National Parks . Inspired by our surroundings , we embarked on our first Patagonian sea kayak expedition , aiming for Grand Campo Nevada , a massive ice field flowing into the western fjords northwest of Punta Arenas .
The trip plan was to paddle to Grand Campo Nevada , a large ice field that flows into the western fjords , located northwest of Punta Arenas . The trip consisted of two fjord networks , three lakes , two rivers , and three portages , two of which we did twice .
We got a ride from our friend and boss of Kayak En Patagonia to the trip ’ s start and our hopeful endpoint . We were nervous due to the forecast and our limited time to complete the expedition , as we both had flights home shortly after we planned to finish . We pushed pretty hard the first few days due to the forecast and got about 90km done within our first three days of paddling . We were starting in a fjord called Seno Obstuccion , a long passageway to the southwest of Puerto Natales with lots of big bays and islands .
After reaching the end of the fjord , we reached two narrow land bridges connecting the fjord to a small series of lakes . A pathway the Alacaluf and Kaweskar tribes used to access the western fjords . We would follow pathways that they had used for the last millennium . With tired bodies after a full day ’ s paddle , we hauled our kayaks over from the fjord to a small lake and then over to another larger lake . We felt excited to see such an untouched and untamed environment . Camp was established just in time as daylight waned , seeking refuge in sleeping bags as temperatures dropped . Another day ’ s progress marked , brimming with challenges and triumphs , setting the stage for further exploits ahead .
We used this larger lake to access the west coast . It was a vast area ; the mountains were worn by strong winds and rain . We felt the isolation , a feeling that Andy and I both love , being able to feel in the present moment only challenged by the environment around us rather than the high-paced , anxiety-driven life that we can sometimes find ourselves in . Simple worries like , “ Where are we going to camp tonight ?” or “ How high is the tide going to come up ?” bring peace and keep us in the present moment . We saw hummingbirds feeding on bright red flowers between the moss . We stopped on a beach halfway down the lake for lunch but quickly returned to the water as the cold prevented us from sitting still for too long . I was humbled thinking about what it must ’ ve been like for the Indigenous when trying to make this place their home , only having animal fat and furs to keep themselves warm when we had dry suits and merino wool .