W Trail Day 1: Hike the Towers Trail: A Challenging Patagonian Adventure.
Gear checked, snacks packed, and legs ready. Let's conquer this mountain! Near the summit of Cerro Almirante Nieto (8,848 feet/2,697 meters above sea level) in the Paine Massif, Torres del Paine National Park. Mount Almirante Nieto, also known as Paine Chico or Paine Este, was named in 1937 by German climbers Hans Teufel and Stefan Zuck. The exact reason remains a mystery, with theories suggesting it was named after someone who helped them obtain a climbing permit, someone who assisted their travel to the region, or even Chilean Navy Admiral Francisco Nieto Gallegos, who might have been the first to photograph the Paine Massif in 1898. The Paine Massif, an eastern spur of the Andes, dominates the park's landscape. Rising dramatically above the Patagonian steppe east of Grey Glacier, the massif features granite spiers and mountains separated by small valleys: Valle del Francés (French Valley), Valle Bader, Valle Ascencio, and Valle del Silencio (Silence Valley). The Towers Trail, visible in the center-right of the photo with its characteristic zigzags. One of the most popular hiking routes in all of Torres del Paine National Park is to the lookout at Base Torres, which sits at the foot of the iconic triple peaks of the Paine Massif. Although it can be completed in less than a day, this hike is strenuous and requires a good level of physical fitness. However, the stunning views at the base of the massif make it well worth the effort. This 14.2-mile (23-kilometer) trekking route (roundtrip), lasting about nine hours, offers stunning views every step of the way. I was treated to breathtaking panoramas of rivers, native forests, mountain peaks, and verdant valleys. Spotting local avian varieties like condors and black eagles is also common.