Laguna Torre
Floating ice.
Gagea — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia — CC BY 2.0 · Justraveling.com — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia — CC BY 2.0
Cerro Torre is a granite needle 3,128 metres high on the border between Argentina and Chile, west of Mount Fitz Roy, and the tallest of four neighbouring peaks. Its tip usually wears a cap of rime ice built by the constant wind, which makes reaching the true summit one of the hardest challenges in world climbing. Visitors reach its foot on the Laguna Torre trail, which leaves from the west end of El Chaltén and follows the Fitz Roy river valley through forest and open ground to a grey lake dotted with floating ice, fed by the Torre glacier directly below the needle. It is easier than the Fitz Roy trail, with no steep climb at the end. The walk takes about six to eight hours there and back. The wind at the lake can be fierce, and the peak often hides in cloud, so watch the forecast and pick a clear day.
Floating ice.
Right below the needle.
Forest and open ground.
Los Glaciares National Park; trail starts at the west end of El Chaltén
Laguna Torre is easier, a mostly level walk without the steep climb at the end of the Laguna de los Tres trail.