Berny's photos

Dead tree near Laguna Azul - Chile, Patagonia scanned slide, Minolta X700

seen from Lago Azul - Patagonia scanned slide, Minolta X700

guanaco family near Torres del Paine - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Torres del Paine National Park - scanned slide, Minolta X700

young guanaco in Torres del Paine National Park - scanned slide, Minolta X700

main image: kitchen for the gauchos PiP-1: machine for pressing sheep wool PiP-2: place for sheepshearers PiP-3: sheep wool depot in another Estancia (abandoned) scanned slide, Minolta X700

Dog houses at the Estancia Tapi Aike. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

An old abandoned pigeon loft at the Estancia Tapi Aike - Patagonia. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

We stayed at this Estancia near Ruta 40 overnight, a really interesting experience. As far as I remember, the size of the Estancia is about 80 km², Don Enrice, the owner, told us.Tapi Aike was established in 1904 by von Heinz and Stubenrauch in a relatively high area with poor pastures on the plateau. The name is ancient, an Aonikenk place name for the small brackish lagoon that is located there. The word means "kidney" perhaps it was a good hunting place for guanacos.- scanned slide, Minolta X700

scanned slide, Minolta X700

scanned slide, Minolta X700

It's a little bit strange to see such a big glacier with green trees, but in southern Patagonia glaciers flow down until they meet the sea. Lago Argentino here has an altitude of only 179 m. - scanned slide, Minolta X700 - The PiP shows another view 15 years later in 2015.

This is a new scan of a photo posted years ago, and geotagged. We were here on top of the glacier and very near to its front. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

In 2000 we could hike relatively near to the glacier's front, which was not possible in 2015, when the guide told us this would be too dangerous. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

I wondered about the rules. All had to wear crampons, but some had not the right shoes, only sneakers. Not a problem for the guide. No rope, not really a lot of instructions, but as you can imagine, falling down from this ridge could be enough for a broken neck. Later we came very near to the glaciers front, which was very exciting for photographers, but a bit dangerous. 15 years later in 2015 I made this hike again under much strciter rules, but unfortunately not so good photo opportunities ;-) - scanned slide, Minolta X700