| Objective: Kayaking by Glaciar Grey in Patagonia Location: Lago Grey, Patagonia, Chile Trip Length: 2.5 hours |
At the end of the ‘W’ Trek in Patagonia, give your feet a break and go for a paddle in the icy waters by Glaciar Grey. From the glacial waters of Lago Grey, you will spot icebergs and granite coastlines where the mountains meet the sea. Just before reaching Glaciar Grey, you will have the opportunity to beach the kayak and walk in the glacier’s shadow.
| Getting Ready | Meet the Sea Kayak | Fighting the Rudder | To the Glacial Bay! | Plan Your Visit |
Getting Ready
At a tent by the eastern shore of Lago Grey, our group changes into thermal wetsuits and booties. We also wear a waterproof jacket, big gloves, and a life jacket. Next, our guides provide a safety briefing about the route and efficient paddling techniques. We also learn what to do if the kayak capsizes and how to bail water out of the kayak.
Meet the Sea Kayak
The sea kayak has a rudder for holding a course. The person in the back seat guides the rudder using foot pedals. We straddle the kayak behind the seat and then shimmy into the hull. Your feet rest on a step on each side and your knees are pressed against the sides of the kayak. The spray skirt around my waist is stretched and wrapped around the seat hole to keep the inside dry. Our dry bags are fastened to the top of the kayak.
Fighting the Rudder
The kayak launches with the rudder up and then we begin paddling. My kayaking buddy is having troubles with the pedals. At the time, we didn’t know a rudder is for keeping the kayak straight in the wind, not for steering. Instead of using paddling as the primary means of steering, we are using the rudder to turn. Each correction probably makes it worse. Since we also both tend to paddle much harder on the right side, we end up zig-zagging wildly. Because of a competitive streak, we exert lots of energy staying ahead of the pack while traveling double the distance.
To the Glacial Bay!
With solid strokes, the vessel springs to life, and we leave swirling water in our wake. When the kayak is at full speed, it even catches
some air soaring over the oncoming waves. We navigate across the lake to the point where Glaciar Grey meets Lago Grey. This afternoon, the conditions are a bit windy as we experience some chop as we cruise over little waves. After a few miles, we approach the ice wall of Glaciar Grey. The majestic east face of the glacier is profoundly blue and jagged. What from a distance appeared to be a white rectangular wall is now sapphire and spiky up close. Glacier Grey surely lives up to its billing as the Bluest Grey. The glacier, once 100 square miles, is west of the Cordillera del Paine mountain range. From where the glacier touches the water, there is a granite coastline.
We beach the kayaks at the edge of the glacier. After a climb up a hill, we reach a glacial pond. On a ledge above the meltwater, you are only about 100 feet away from the side of the glacier. Water flows off the edge and ice tumbles over the side from time to time. Kccrrraaaaccckkk! The glacier cracks with a loud booming sound chunks of ice crash into the water. While we watch the calving, we are snack on chocolate and ginger tea.
Plan Your Visit
| Vendor: Bigfoot Adventures Group Size: 2-16 Provided: Neoprene suit, boots, waterproof jacket, helmet, skirt, life jacket, snacks and hot drinks Meet at: Base Bigfoot Grey, Refugio Grey When: 8 a.m. / 11 a.m. / 4:30 p.m. |
Keep Kayaking!
After kayaking by Glaciar Grey, if you are looking for other epic kayaking adventures, check out the following.
Since you already so far down south, how about kayaking in Antarctica?
Other Patagonian Adventures
Take a walk on the wild side with a glacier ice hike on Glaciar Grey in Patagonia and gaze at the mysteries of deep blue crevasses.