You are three days into a two week solo backpacking trip. You’re just reached the peak of the mountain and are parched. You take off your fullpack, unzip the back pocket, and are horrified to find that the water bottles you had at the last campsite are no longer there. The sun is getting hotter. You are starting to feel weak. What do you do?

Stay calm, know the symptoms

While people have been known to survive without food for weeks, water is an absolute necessity, especially in the backcountry. After all, the human body is 75% water. In an ideal environment, an absolute minimum of two quarts of water a day is needed to maintain this percentage and stay healthy. If you are hiking or in the heat, plan to double this. A human can survive seven days at most in the shade at 80 degrees without water – as temperature, exertion, or sunlight increases, this period can decrease significantly.

Dehydration is dangerous in part because it can be a slippery slope. As blood thickens, circulation becomes less efficient, the heart has to work harder, physical and mental abilities deteriorate, and we reach a state where we are less able to find more water. Lethargy, dizziness, confusion, and eventually death can result.

An ounce of preparation…

How you cope in a survival situation often depends more on preparation than raw outdoor skills. A few common sense steps you can take to avoid dehydration:

• Carry extra water. Seems obvious, but plan on needing one gallon per day.
• Carry a reliable topographic map. It will help you locate water sources.
• Have at least two methods of purifying water. A water filter, stove, and water purification tablets are all acceptable. If you are relying on boiling water to make it safe, make sure to do so for at least two minutes to bring all of the water to a rolling boil.
• If you are backpacking, plan in advance where you will get your water supplies. Ask park rangers or other hikers what streams or sources are flowing and which are dry.
• Don’t wait until you run out of water to look for more.

A survival plan

If you are well-prepared, even a mishap like losing your water bottles will not result in disaster. Your first imperative should be to find more, while you still have the energy:

• Stay calm and move into the shade
• Think if you have passed any water sources on the trail recently
• Look for streams or other water sources on your topographic map
• Look at the topography of the land around you. Do you see any ditches, low areas, or gulleys that would indicate a stream?

If you are unable to locate water and situations worsen:

• Stay in the shade and seek shelter
• Look for water that may have collected in rock crevices
• Look for green vegetation – it may indicate a water source is near

With a little bit of preparation, and a degree of calmness, you should be well equipped to survive in even the more remote environments.

Every hiker has a list of favorite trails. After many years of hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I decided to compile a list of what I consider to be the best hikes in the Smokies.

1. Mt. Cammerer

Nuts & Bolts Start from the Low Gap Trailhead in Cosby for this 2500 foot climb, 12 mile roundtrip hike to reach the summit of Mt. Cammerer.

Trail Highlights Climb 2.5 miles up the Low Gap Trail before hooking-up with the Appalachian Trail. Cross over a grassy ridge on the AT before turning onto the rugged spur trail that leads to the summit. Mt. Cammerer is on the edge of a rocky outcropping overlooking the Pigeon River Gorge. On a clear day, the views are simply awesome; some even say the best in the Park. For an even better vantage point, step up to the deck of the stone fire tower. This “Western” style tower, which was fully restored in 1995, provides you with 360 degree views. Look in any direction and see row upon row of smoky blue mountains.

Trivia Tidbit The octagonal fire tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the late 1930s using hand-cut stone from the surrounding area.

2. Andrews Bald

Nuts & Bolts From the Clingmans Dome parking lot, hike 1.7 miles along the Forney Ridge Trail to reach Andrews Bald. Total elevation gain on the roundtrip hike is 900 feet.

Trail Highlights Only a 1.7 mile hike to see magnificent views? Sounds like a breeze. Well, not so fast. Don’t let the mileage  fool you – this is a rugged hike! The trail is littered with rain run-off, rocks and small boulders. But don’t let any of this deter you. Thanks to several acres of open grassy meadow, commonly referred to as balds in the Appalachians, spectacular views of the southern Smokies await you at the end of this hike. Andrews Bald is the perfect place to open up a blanket, relax, and enjoy a picnic.

Trivia Tidbit Without maintenance from the Park Service, Andrews Bald would be reclaimed by forest.

3. Charlies Bunion

Nuts & Bolts Head east from the Newfound Gap parking lot and hike 4 miles along the Appalachian Trail to reach Charlies Bunion. You’ll climb a total of 1640 feet during the roundtrip hike.

Trail Highlights A long steep climb from the parking lot quickly leaves most of the crowds behind. Eventually you’ll reach a long stretch of trail that traverses a ridge where you’ll be hovering around an altitude of roughly 6000 feet. Being at the highest point along this narrow ridge, with views on either side of the trail, you’ll feel like you’re walking along the spine of the Appalachians.

Originally known as Fodderstack, Charlies Bunion is a precipitous rock out-cropping offering stunning views of the Tennessee side of the Smokies. If you still have the energy on your way back, take a side trail near the Boulevard Trail junction to visit The Jump Off. The views from this vantage point are well worth the additional one-mile roundtrip.

Trivia Tidbit The current name of this popular destination is a result of when Charlie Conner was hiking with Horace Kephart, one of the early proponents of a national park in the Smokies. When they paused for a rest, Conner took his boots and socks off exposing a bunion that looked like the surrounding rocks. Looking at Conner’s feet, Kephart remarked, “Charlie, I’m going to get this place put on a government map for you.” And so he did.

4. Porters Creek

Nuts & Bolts This is a moderate roundtrip hike of 4 miles beginning out of Greenbrier, just east of Gatlinburg.

Trail Highlights The Porters Creek Trail just about has it all. You’ll stroll along a beautiful cascading stream through a lush old-growth forest, while walking past many remnants of the early settlers in this area before reaching a little known waterfall. If you hike this trail during the spring you’ll have the additional benefit of witnessing the spectacular displays of wildflowers. The forest floor was carpeted with white trilliums, bloodroot, hepaticas, violets, fringed phacelia, rue anemone and many other wildflowers during an early spring hike. At roughly 2 miles, Fern Branch Falls slides and tumbles nearly 50 feet off the ridge to the left of the trail.

Trivia Tidbit Roughly 1 mile from the trailhead is a short side trail that takes you to the John Messer farm site which includes a cantilevered barn built around 1875. There’s also a cabin that was built by the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club in the mid-1930s.

5. Rocky Top

Nuts & Bolts This is a strenuous hike of 12.5 miles and more than 3600 feet in elevation gain. Start from the Anthony Creek trailhead in the Cades Cove Picnic area.

Trail Highlights You’ll huff and puff up the mountain for the first 5 miles of this hike, but your hard work will be paid-off once you reach Spence Field. If visibility is good the grassy meadows up here will afford you with outstanding views of the North Carolina side of the Smokies. If you can arrange it, hike the trail in late spring when Spence Field showcases the most spectacular display of mountain laurel you’ll see just about anywhere. The hillsides and meadows are literally covered in the white and soft pink flowers from this member of the heath family.

Spence Field is a destination in and of itself, but the views get even better if you continue along the Appalachian Trail for an additional 1.2 miles. After another stiff climb of 550 feet you’ll finally reach Rocky Top, the first of three peaks on the summit of Thunderhead Mountain. The panoramic views from here, in my opinion, are the best in the Park. From good ole Rocky Top you can see Fontana Lake, Cades Cove, Townsend, Maryville, and beyond.

Trivia Tidbit Yes, this is the same Rocky Top that inspired Felice and Boudleaux Bryant to write the famous lyrics that is now the fight song for the University of Tennessee and one of the official songs for the state of Tennessee.

6. Gregory Bald

Nuts & Bolts From Cades Cove, climb 3000 feet and trek 5.6 miles up the Gregory Ridge Trail to reach the 10 acre Gregory Bald summit.

Trail Highlights As stunning as the year-round views are, Gregory Bald is most famous for the spectacular flame azaleas that bloom on the summit from mid to late June. Azalea lovers from all over the world come here to visit perhaps the finest display of azaleas anywhere on the planet. You’ll see a rainbow of colors including fire red, wine red, orange, salmon, yellow, white, pink, and even multi-colored azaleas.

Even if you can’t make it in June, this hike should be on your list for any time of the year. The commanding views of Cades Cove, Fontana Lake and the eastern crest of the Smokies make this a year-round destination.

Trivia Tidbit This particular bald is named after Russell Gregory, an early settler in the Cades Cove area. He and other cove residents used the field to graze cattle during the spring and summer when the fields in the cove were needed for growing crops.

7. Mount LeConte

Nuts & Bolts Take the 5.5 mile hike up Alum Cave Trail to the Summit of Mount LeConte. You’ll climb 2763 feet to reach the summit of the third highest peak in the Smokies.

Trail Highlights If ever there was a classic hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte would certainly qualify. Sure, there are trails in the Park that are far longer, that gain more elevation, or have steeper climbs, but the Alum Cave Trail is unmatched in its combination of interesting geological features, history, high adventure and stunning views.

To reach the summit, climb through Arch Rock, take your first breather at Inspiration Point, spot a peregrine falcon near the Eye of the Needle, marvel at the imposing Alum Cave, and hold-on tight to the cable hand rails as you pass over the rock ledges on the upper portions of the trail.

Upon reaching the summit, go to Cliff Top near the LeConte Lodge for amazing views of Clingmans Dome and the rolling mountains that lie towards the west. On the other side of LeConte is Myrtle Point which offers outstanding vistas of the eastern Smokies.

Trivia Tidbit One of the unique things about Mount LeConte is the lodge and overnight cabins at the top. Hikers can spend the night in one the rustic cabins which can accommodate about 50 guests a night (you’ll need to make reservations first).

Grand Teton National Park

Nearby Yellowstone National Park is older and more famous, but the majestic snow-capped Teton range offers its most suberb scenery here. As a bonus, you may find the park less crowded and more kid-friendly than its northern neighbor. Young Naturalist programs are offered daily during the summer. The park newspaper (free upon admission) features a list of ranger-led programs.

Rocky Mountain National Park

One of the only places in the world that you can find the extreme alpine conditions of 14200 foot Longs Peak next to the accessibility of ranger-led walks and kid-friendly programs. Whether you want to saddle up and go peak-bagging, or kick back in a nice resort and enjoy the crisp alpine air, Rocky Mountain National Park has something for everyone.

Mt. Rainer National Park

Where the Rocky Mountains seem to stretch forever, Washington’s Mt. Rainier seems to rise on its own out of the suburbs of Seattle. Unless you are a semi-experienced mountaineer ready to go on an overnight trip, you probably won’t be going to the top here, but you can explore some of the prettiest wildflower-populated meadows anywhere, take a walk on a glacier, and learn first-hand a lot about geology. Offers stroller-accessible trails and ranger programs. Best to visit in the summer.

Mesa Verde National Park

While most parks on this list offers alpine splendor, Mesa Verde is alone in offering a window into the world 1300 years ago. Kids of all ages will enjoy walking along the accessible trails of Mesa Verde and peaking into the cliffside ruins of the Pueblo people. Also features an informative visitor center and kid-friendly ranger programs.

Yosemite National Park

Waterfall-ringed Yosemite Valley is unique in offering an accessible entry to California’s wild and wonderful Sierra-Nevada mountain range. From the valley, you can gaze in awe at Half Dome and El Capitan, two rock formations that rise to the heavens from the valley floor.  While adventurous parents are climbing the peaks, kids can enjoy completing one of the first Junior Ranger programs. The waterfalls will be at their peak in late spring.

1. Mixed Dried Fruit – The ideal backpacking food: lightweight, nutritious, high in fiber, and impossible to crush, break, or damage!
2. Cliff Bars - There are more energy bars on the market then you can count, but Cliff bars can’t be beat for a delicious and high-energy supplement that won’t leave you feeling guilty or sluggish from too much fat.
3. Tuna Salad on Whole Wheat Bread – Mix two cans of chunked tuna with a couple tablespoons pickle relish and a pinch of mayonnaise for a delicious treat that seems to grow in taste the higher you climb.
4. Trail Mix – Cashews, Peanuts, M+Ms,  Sunflower Seeds, pumpkin seeds. The old standby
5. Triscuit Crackers and hard cheese – One of those simple foods that somehow grows in flavor for every mile of a hard slog.
6. Fig Newtons – Who doesn’t love them?
7. Beef Jerky. A great way for carnivores to get their meat-fix in a nutritious and trail-friendly form.

Day 1 – South Kaibab Trail from South Rim to Cottonwood Creek Campground

Four days earlier as we started our adventure at the South Rim, my chief concern was that I had not brought enough clothes. The advertised 70 degree temperatures seemed to be lost in a strong April wind, and we donned jackets and long-pants as we passed day-hikers, backpackers, and the occasional mule train going down the steep and dusty switchbacks of the famous South Kaibab trail. The cold temperatures were a fleeting concern, because as we would find about so much else in the Canyon, the conditions at the top were a pure predictor of those below. Halfway down to the Tonto platform our entire group had shed as many layers as we could.

The Grand Canyon is a unique place partly because there are many things about it that seem obvious and prosaic from a distance, but are still somewhat shocking when experienced firsthand. One of these is how much easier it is to descend then ascend. Another is how vast the Canyon really is – not just in terms of its vertical depth, but in its horizontality that seems to encompass multiple climates and even ecosystems. That first day, we experienced both of these. Despite getting off to a late mid-morning start, we were already down onto the Tonto Platform by 2 in the afternoon and had barely broken a sweat. What we had done is constantly change our frame of reference. When you descend into the Canyon new views are opened in unsuspecting ways  – what once looked moist now looks arid, what once seemed so close now looks so far away, what was once blocked by a rock face is now revealed to the eye. By the time we stepped towards the edge of the Tonto platform and peered for the first time onto the waters of the Colorado River, still more than 1000 feet below, we had thoroughly convinced ourselves that we had been duped:  we were not hiking in a single canyon, no matter how Grand it may be, but in a strange network of them that stretched across space and time and was only slowly revealed to us as we descended.

One of the biggest surprises when we finally reached the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch / Bright Angel Campground is how anticlimactic it seemed. After descending into a 1000 foot inner-canyon which was not even visible a couple hours ago, we were expecting to be greeted by something suitably dramatic. Instead, Bright Angel Campground looks about like any campground in a clump of trees by a meandering stream.  And just as you cannot possibly have any perspective on the vastness of the canyon by gazing into it from the rim, so too can you not have any perspective on how far you have come from gazing at the walls of the inner canyon while at the bottom. In fact, in direct contrast to climbing a mountain, the best views in descending into a canyon are actually at the beginning of your journey. The sheer banality of our destination gave the day an almost otherworldly feel, given how far from the rim and the rest of civilization we really were.

Day 2 – Day hike along North Kaibab Trail and Clear Creek Trail

You could walk along the entire lower stretch of the North Kaibab trail and never realize that you are in the Grand Canyon. Even so, it would probably rank as one of the top ten hikes on the east coast. The trail meanders through a narrow and scenic slot canyon formed by Bright Angel creek. We took a turn-around point at Bright Angel Falls, a wonderful Falls off a side canyon. On the way back we took the time to scramble up a few now-dry side cannons, walking along each until we hit the inevitable impenetrable run-off.

After a quick stop back at the campground, we headed out with our flashlights for an evening jaunt up to an amazing viewpoint on the Clear Creek trail. Brian and I were so motivated by watching sunset from a rocky viewpoint above the Colorado that we decided to press on, doing a few trail running stretches to maximize our daylight time. Watching the moon come out over the Colorado River was definitely something to experience.

One of numerous mostly-dry side canyons we snaked around on the Tonto Trail

Day 3 – River Trail to Tonto Platform, Tonto Trail towards Horseshoe Mesa (camp along platform)

Hiking rim-to-river gives you a sense of the canyon’s sheer vastness, but it takes a long walk along the Tonto platform to begin to fully adjust to what one long-time park ranger we spoke to referred to as “geologic time.” With the adrenaline from flying across the country to “conquer” the canyon now fading somewhat, the thoughts in our head began to slow as we walked along the flat tonto platform, meandered around seemingly endless side canyons, and contemplated how small in time and space we were relative to the vastness of what we were walking through.

An afternoon rain storm (one downside of hiking the canyon in April – it does rain occasionally) caused us to eventually throw in the towel and pitch tents a bit earlier than we had planned. Lacking much in the way of entertainment, we went to sleep at 5 PM and woke up about 13 hours later.

Day 4 – Tonto Trail to top of Horseshoe Mesa

After a premature stop the day before, we were faced with a herculean day of hiking – roughly 14 miles to Horseshoe Mesa, along a dusty and slow trail. The last mile or two we left the flat Tonto plateau behind and ascended towards the top of Horseshoe Mesa. From approach, the mesa looks and feels a lot like a mountain within a canyon, and we had to really huff it to get to the top before sunset. From the top, you can begin to understand the name. What seemed to be steep and narrow turns out be flat and quite enormous.

The Colorado River from the Tonto Trail

Day 5 – Grandview Trail to South Rim

After a quick pre-dawn scramble to the edge of the mesa to watch the sunrise, we set out on the Grandview trail early, as we had to get back to Phoenix for a late afternoon flight. It was a 180 degree turn-around from the first day as the trail seemed to go straight up. The four miles from Grandview to the rim were some of the toughest miles I have hiked in my life, but incredible views of the same terrain that we had spent the past four days walking through made it worthwhile. The thought of eating a “real-food lunch” after 4 days of backpacking grub pushed us through the last hour.

If you go:

• Make sure you get a NPS backcountry permit if you are planning to camp below the rim. You should return your application, complete with your requested itinerary, on the first day possible (usually four calendar months in advance of your trip).
• While you can hike in the canyon year round, the spring and fall (April – May, September-October) are some of the best times to go. There is a form you can fill out to tell the ranger which camping sites/regions you would like to stay in.
• The Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails are the most direct routes from the south rim to the river, with each descending about 5000 feet. The Tonto trail is the main trans-canyon route that more or less travels along a contour line of a map and can be used to make a lot of great loops (including the one described above, which comes recommended).

Check out the websites below for more information

• NPS Grand Canyon backcountry website
• Grand Canyon Explorer

The Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a camelid native to South America that stands between 107 and 122 centimeters (3.5 and 4 feet) at the shoulder and weighs about 90 kg (200 lb). The color varies very little, ranging from a light brown to dark cinnamon and shading to white underneath. Guanacos have grey faces and small straight ears. They are extremely striking with their large, alert brown eyes, streamlined form, and energetic pace. The name Guanaco comes from the South American language Quechua word “huanaco”. Young guanacos are called chulengo(s).

After getting a chance to walk among a heard of guanacos we continued on our tour of the Easter Lakes to Lago Azul (aka The Blue Lagoon). Lago Azul provided us with a chance to look back at the mountain range where we had been trekking with the bright blue of the lagoon in the foreground. Since it was summer there were also patches of gorgeous pink and purple flowers that are indigenous to Patagonia that were in full bloom. Needless to say all the elements of the area added up to a great place to take some departing photos to remember our time in Torres del Paine National Park.

Read more about our trek in Patagonia:

• Patagonia Trek – Intro
• Patagonia Trek – Recommended Gear
• Patagonia Trek – Milodon Cave (Day 1)
• Patagonia Trek – Paso Los Cuernos (Day 2)
• Patagonia Trek – Valle del Frances (Day 3)
• Patagonia Trek – The Grey Glacier (Day 4)
• Patagonia Trek – The Towers (Day 5)
• Patagonia Trek – The Eastern Lakes (Day 6)

The trail was broken down into 3 sections (see route map). The first 1.5 hours of the ascent was rocky with vegetation close to the ground which leaves you pretty exposed to the elements. This portion ends when you cross the river at Refugio Chileno. From the refugio the next 2 hours of the ascent meanders through a lush forested area that is very similar to trails in the Cascade Mountain range outside of Seattle and other trails in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. You eventually exit the forest to enter a large boulder field which is when the trail becomes extremely sandy. You have to continue to climb through the boulder field for another hour before you reach the Mirador Las Torres lookout.

By the time we made it up to the lookout, The Towers were unfortunately completely hidden by clouds so instead of rejoicing at the wonderful vantage point the AllTrails Team celebrated the fact that we had successfully completed the Torres del Paine “W” Trek. Like completing any ascent, only half the work was done since there was still a long journey back down the mountain before Day 5 would be complete.

Read more about our trek in Patagonia:

• Patagonia Trek – Intro
• Patagonia Trek – Recommended Gear
• Patagonia Trek – Milodon Cave (Day 1)
• Patagonia Trek – Paso Los Cuernos (Day 2)
• Patagonia Trek – Valle del Frances (Day 3)
• Patagonia Trek – The Grey Glacier (Day 4)
• Patagonia Trek – The Towers (Day 5)
• Patagonia Trek – The Eastern Lakes (Day 6)

The trail from Refugio Paine Grande to the Grey Glacier lookout near Refugio Grey was pretty easy going. We headed up for the first hour and then made our way over the next few hours down towards the Lago Grey shore. Like the rest of the trek, this portion of the “W” trail offered some great views. One that especially stood out to me was our first glimpse of some small icebergs in Lago Grey that were giving off the brightest blue hue I’ve ever seen in nature.

As we came over the ridge at the Grey Glacier lookout the first thing that stuck me was just how massive the ice field behind the Grey Glacier was. Once we took in the glacier from the lookout we headed down to Refugio Grey and jumped on a boat to get a closer look. As you can see in the photos below seeing the glacier up close was truly awe inspiring.

After the boat trip we jumped in a van and headed back to EcoCamp which would serve as home base for the last couple days of the trek.

Read more about our trek in Patagonia:

• Patagonia Trek – Intro
• Patagonia Trek – Recommended Gear
• Patagonia Trek – Milodon Cave (Day 1)
• Patagonia Trek – Paso Los Cuernos (Day 2)
• Patagonia Trek – Valle del Frances (Day 3)
• Patagonia Trek – The Grey Glacier (Day 4)
• Patagonia Trek – The Towers (Day 5)
• Patagonia Trek – The Eastern Lakes (Day 6)

Most of the morning we were hiking on an upward sloping ridge next to a river aptly named Rio del Frances that serves as the main waterway for all the melt water from the glacier. About 1.5 miles into Valle del Frances the trail opened up to offer a spectacular view of the glacier.

It was also at this point that we started noticing the periodic rumbling and rushing of snow caused by frequent avalanches coming down the glacier into the valley. From this point we ventured deeper into the valley another 1.5 hours (round trip). While the higher vantage point did offer a slightly different view of the glacier and terrain you could probably forgo this portion of the hike if you wanted to cut down the length of the day.

After a quick stop we retraced our steps back down the valley to begin our 5 hour hike to Refugio Paine Grande. Once out of Valle del Frances we crossed Rio del Frances at which point the trail flattened out and started meandering around Lago Skottsberg through light forest and meadows . A little over 10 hours after leaving Los Cuernos Refugio earlier that morning we made one last stop 2 miles out from the next refugio. At that point a handful of us including our guide decided to break into a run and race to Refugio Paine Grande. Needless to say our guide beat us pretty handily covering the remaining distance in 18 minutes with a 50 lbs pack on his back while it took the rest of us 23 minutes even though all we were carrying were our daypacks. The rest of our group staggered in at around 45 minutes which was still a very respectable time considering the length of the day.

To give you some more details on Refugio Paine Grande, it offers 2 different accommodation options: hostel or camping. We stayed in the hostel which was a step up from our accommodations at Los Cuernos Refugio. One advantage Refugio Paine Grande has is that it is able to get supplies via boat which definitely showed in its construction. To be honest it felt much more like a hotel than a hostel. The price of food and drinks was also cheaper than the previous night and they even offer a small convenience store where you could buy necessary food supplies.

Read more about our trek in Patagonia:

• Patagonia Trek – Intro
• Patagonia Trek – Recommended Gear
• Patagonia Trek – Milodon Cave (Day 1)
• Patagonia Trek – Paso Los Cuernos (Day 2)
• Patagonia Trek – Valle del Frances (Day 3)
• Patagonia Trek – The Grey Glacier (Day 4)
• Patagonia Trek – The Towers (Day 5)
• Patagonia Trek – The Eastern Lakes (Day 6)

Los Cuernos Refugio offers 3 different accommodation options: cabins, hostel, or camping. We stayed in the hostel which was more than adequate since it had running water, hot showers, and a dinning area where you could pay for breakfast, dinner, & other refreshments. Since the refugio is in the middle of nowhere everything has to be brought in by porters which fully justifies the $5 they charge for a single beer.

One thing to note if you’re considering hiking Torres del Paine, you can drink water straight from the stream without needing to add any tablets. The water in the local streams is basically melt water from the glaciers that is very well filtered by the rocks on its way down the mountain. Everyone in our 14 person group drank glacier water almost exclusively without any ill effects. If you’re heading to Torres del Paine don’t worry about stocking up on water or water tablets for that matter since you can simply fill up at one of the many streams to keep yourself hydrated.

Read more about our trek in Patagonia:

• Patagonia Trek – Intro
• Patagonia Trek – Recommended Gear
• Patagonia Trek – Milodon Cave (Day 1)
• Patagonia Trek – Paso Los Cuernos (Day 2)
• Patagonia Trek – Valle del Frances (Day 3)
• Patagonia Trek – The Grey Glacier (Day 4)
• Patagonia Trek – The Towers (Day 5)
• Patagonia Trek – The Eastern Lakes (Day 6)