Today has been a day of transportation and logistics, so there is little to report. As a result, I will share one quick story and a few extra photos.

If it seems like a lazy man’s blog, please have pity on your humble correspondent. Loading these photos has devoured the time I usually spend writing.

Here is the one story.

Two days ago, we stood next to the glacial lake that lies below Fitz Roy mountain and the other spires that form the Patagonia logo. This lake's walls were formed tens of thousands of years ago by a glacier.   Our guide described the process as follows. The glacier is like a giant bulldozer that pushes material in front of it and to the sides. Once it recedes, the soil, rocks and cuttings create a wall that forms the lake.

The water is 100% melted glacier. Here is an example.

This LOOKS like a waterfall. It is actually a partial avalanche. That is snow going into the lake.

In case you do not have a degree in thermo-dynamics, I can drop this news flash on you. This makes a very cold lake.

We ate next to the lake, took some pictures and started to pack to leave. We then noticed a group of young backpackers on the right side of the lake taking their shirts off. Before we knew it, one jumped in the water to the cheers of his peers.

Our reaction was a mixed one. This was clearly a stupid act. Water that cold can make it hard to breathe and it is certainly not comfortable. But, on the other hand, there was a joyous “carpe diem” aspect to our bather. I could not help but notice Liam look that way multiple times as we started to leave. We ascended the side of the hill about 200 feet with Liam bringing up the rear. We then heard him make an odd request.

“Can you please wait? If I do not go in, I will regret it.”

He was not overheated and in search of a cool rinse. His desire to take this polar plunge stemmed from a personal desire to “suck the marrow out of life”. He craves experiences and hates regrets. Apparently, his fear of regrets provided sufficient insulation to allow him to jump in (wearing his shorts), swim for a full minute and return.  Here is Liam at the side of the lake.

And the swimming. 

His report was that it was “cold, but cool” (a sentence that looks somewhat ridiculous when you read it).

OK, here are the bonus pictures as well.

Here is a rainbow.

Steve Sir