Dad checking out the view from our room in Hotel Xelena on the shore of Lago Argentino.
Early in the morning, we board a van to drive out to Nibepo Aike, a working estancia (ranch). The 2 hour drive is entirely on rutted, gravel road, but the views…
A closeup of some Calafate along the road. The Calafate berries grow everywhere around here, are very tart, and remind me of açai berries. They also make…
A Rhea along the road. These are big flightless birds related to the ostrich and emu. They're pretty cool looking.
A small flock of Rheas.
About to pass through another entrance into Parque Nacional los Glaciares.
We arrive at the Nibepo Aike estancia. Here's the dining hall where we'll be having an excellent lamb and steak lunch shortly.
I hope these guys aren't on the menu.
The views from the ranch are excellent. It would be quite a lifestyle to live out here.
The estancia used to be much larger, but was required to downsize when the National Park was formed. But they still actively raise sheep for wool and cattle for…
Then we get to see a demonstration of sheep shearing. Most of the wool produced here is sent to China where the lanolin is extracted for use in cosmetics and…
Then we board a small boat for the ride out to the Perito Moreno glacier.
Our first distant view of the glacier. The Perito Moreno glaciar is one of the few glaciers in the world that is stable, meaning it grows at the same rate it…
We get off the boat for a short hike across the island for another view of the glacier.
The nice inlet where the boat had dropped us off.
Looking back at the view. The trail here is mostly just a beaten path through the flowers.
Once we reach the other side of the island, we're rewarded with a great view of the glacier.
Then the boat picks us up to take us for a much closer view. Here we are at the back of the boat.
The boat takes us up to within a few hundred yards of the face of the glacier.
The face of the glacier averages 240 feet above the surface of the lake, and extends over 300 feet below the surface.