The goal this day would be to hike to the top of a ridge below Fitz Roy

Tracks of the elusive Puma spotted in the sand

A rest spot just before beginning a long ascent towards Fitz Roy

Looking back at Laguna Madre and Hija (I think) as we walk towards Fitz Roy

Starting here we experienced the 180+km/h winds that the area is famous for. Shea almost blew off the ridge if it were not for the quick reflexes of our guide Eduardo.

About 35km away in the distance you can see Lago Viedma

Approaching each step with caution to avoid becoming a kite

The following bit of historical background courtesy of Eduardo Shule, one of our guides in the Chalten region

As mentioned before, Fitz Roy's name is Chalten, in Tehuelches language and it means mountain that smokes or blue mountain (because it always seems to have a cloud over the peak and the Indians thought that it was a volcano). The European name Fitz Roy was given by Francisco Moreno (Perito Moreno) in honor of this captain that was the first one who sailed up the Santa Cruz river and crossed the Beagle channel. It was first climbed in 1952 by Frenchmen Lionel and Terray

Taking a windy break