Story behind the images at On the circuit in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile – Trail Option

First glance. Paine Grande rises beyond the bay of Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile

Short walk, long pier. Pilings in the bay at Puerto Natalies, Patagonia, Chile

Patagonia evening. The idyll of Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile

Dancing Bill. Celebrating arrival at Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile

First glance. An introduction to the drama of Torre del Paine National Park, Chile.

Color in the rain. Torre del Paine National Park, Chile

El equipo del senderos. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

El equipo del senderos II. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Below Chileno. An afternoon approach along Rio Ascencio, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

El abuelo. In the forests of Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

In the moraine. Our small group moves toward the towers, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

A glimpse. The towers of Cerro Torre peek above the moraine, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Summer snow. Near Cerro Torre, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Clearing. The squalls leave the towers of Cerro Torre, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Fissured. Igneous dikes break the pattern in the meta-sedimentary rocks of Rio Ascencio, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Falls of Ascencio. The canyons walls are alive with water feeding the Rio Ascencio, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Appearances. Simplicity in the canyon of Rio Ascencio, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Water to scree. The walls of Rio Ascencio, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Marvels. The pleasure of a good first day, Bill, Andrea, and Sarah, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Getting stride. Bill and Andrea in the canyon of Rio Ascencio, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Upper Ascencio. A brief storm clears from the canyon of Rio Ascencio, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Attention. This ridge held my gaze throughout the day, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

A condor. A greeting visit on our first day in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

The ridge of the condor. Clearing skies in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Balmaceda. Distance peaks of the Pacific Ocean from the canyon of Rio Ascencio, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Distant ice. Peaks emerge from the woodland of the Rio Paine, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Flower lunch. Along the trail to Campamento Seron, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Rio Paine. Looking back on our trail to Campamento Seron, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Walking among mountains I. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Walking among mountains II, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Walking among mountains III, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Glacier Dickson, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Knowing where we are. Karina, our guide, gives context to the O circuit, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Chilean Swallow. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Bill on Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

A guided walk on Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Feeling the adventure. Rosalind takes in the Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Evening ridges on Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Rosalind and Sarah, Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

The crazy Belgian, Bart on Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Evening blues on Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Lift. Chimango caracara, a common falcon throughout Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Eyes of chimango. The Chimango Caracara visits the trail, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Trail patrol. A Chimango Caracara, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Paine Grande. Sunrise and approaching rain, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Lightness. C louds swirl above Lago Scottsberg, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Mariposa. Trailside color in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

River rain. Rio del Frances at Campamento Italiano, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Patience. Our guide, Andrea, on the trail to Campamento Italiano, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

On the trail. Our group approaches Campamento Italiano, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

A light rain. Early drama on the edge of Los Cuernos, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Snow falls. Avalanches rumble from the hanging glaciers of French Valley, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Hanging blue. The hanging glaciers of French Valley peak from the storm, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
