Day 4 on the W Trail: Scars and Serenity: A Patagonian Landscape of Resilience.
Standing at the edge of Lago Grey, 60 meters above the sea, I'd just descended a steep cliff, scrambling down a stream of smooth stones, my 50-liter (13,20-gallon) backpack weighing me down. Around me, charred tree skeletons stood silent sentinels, victims of careless tourist-ignited wildfires. Their blackened limbs reached out in a desperate plea, seeking solace in the waters of Lago Grey or the ethereal Lenticular clouds above. But neither could offer aid. How could I not think of the animals that once called these trees home? Now, they lay lifeless, trapped between the icy lake and the towering, glacier-clad peaks. No one was coming to help. These trees were doomed to oblivion, their silent cries echoing unheard. But I saw them. And I vowed to bear witness to their fate, to share their story with the world, hoping that one day, we'll learn to cherish and protect these precious natural wonders before it's too late. *** PS. Number 2 on Explore on July 13th., 2024.