W Trail Day 1: On the Trail to Torres del Paine: A Sensory Experience
Standing on the rustic wooden bridge, I was struck by the scene's serenity. The lenga forest embraced the surroundings, and the sound of the Río Ascencio flowing gently below added to the peaceful atmosphere. Here, amidst the untouched beauty, I felt a deep sense of connection with nature. But this tranquility was tinged with anticipation. This bridge marked a point of progress on my hike, a step closer to the breathtaking panorama of Mirador Las Torres that awaited me. Where I am: The distance between Refugio Central/Las Torres and Camping Chileno is 3.42 miles (5.5 km) and has a moderate difficulty. This section of the trail is a mix of uphill and downhill sections and takes about 1.5 hours to complete, with an elevation gain of 1,312 feet (+400 m). The distance between Camping El Chileno (after the bridge) and Mirador Base Las Torres, also known as Mirador Torres, is 6.07 miles (round trip, 9.78 km). The hike is moderately difficult, takes about 8 hours, and has an elevation gain of 1,936 feet (+590 m). Mirador Las Torres is located at the top right corner of the "W" shaped trail. The entire hike to the top of Torres del Paine from from Central/Las Torres is 14.29 miles (23 km) and is considered moderately to difficult, taking between 7 and 10 hours.