It's been a couple of weeks since I got back, I spent 2 weeks there roughly equally divided between the Argentinian and Chilean side; drove a rental car in between. First of all, I would like to thank everyone on this forum and similar ones for all the advice and tips, @keepclicking, Parul, etc; I've been wanting to go since 2023 but only this year it materialized. A couple of general observations:
1. Yes, it is amazing. I live in a state in the US with tons of natural beauty, but this is a whole different level.
2. The weather is as crazy as they say. I intentionally left enough days to take it easy and that was a good thing since 30% of the time the weather didn't cooperate.
3. When you read about the place, how to go, logistics, it all sounds very complicated; that is probably one of the main reasons why workshops have a business there (and I saw many). But let me tell you that it's not that complicated. In TdP you can't steer away from the trails, and in El Chalten, everything is a hike away from the town.
To reciprocate all the help that I got here, please PM me if you have questions or need tips. I'll gladly pass on everything I learned while it's still fresh in my mind.
These are a few favorites from what I managed to process so far:
Witnessed a few epic sunrises (that's what works there, not sunsets)
This shot was crazy, we were rushing a hike with headlamps to an iconic location and the time was well into the blue hour, then I look up and I kind of see this composition, tripod out, framed without seeing much (it was dark!) and took 1 shot only; then we continued on our rushed hike.
There were a lot of people, but it was manageable if you followed a photographer's schedule. I can't imagine what this place is like in the peak tourist season (Summer).
Nice set. I have been there in March (2011), April-May (2017), and December (2024). The first two trips were nearly 3 weeks each and the last one a week with my wife. Spent most of the time on trip 1 and 2 staring at gray skies, with total clearing time of perhaps a few hours that were amazing. On trip 3, which was to Chalten only with my wife, I got tired of seeing Fitz Roy, it was out literally all the time, but not nearly photogenic. Crowds were not as bad as I expected them to be, perhaps because it was the week between Christmas and NYE.
Pro tip to anyone planning NYE festivities is BA - DON'T. NYE is a family holiday in AR and the city is DEAD DEAD DEAD.
Thanks @Danpbphoto @Ross Martin, and @GroovyGeek (and special thanks to you for all the tips before my trip).
I forgot in my original post that like with every fall trip, I was agonizing over not missing the fall colors. Being so used to the leaves in Colorado that disappear after a storm, I think the leaves in Patagonia are more sturdy so things seemed more robust. But that's another lucky thing, I did get the fall colors
Leaves in Patagonia are actually more sensitive to wind, because the fall winds in Patagonia can pick you up off your feet and plant you on your ass in a few seconds. On my 2017 trip tree limbs went from beautiful to barren in 2 days
Lots of examples on YT, just search for "Patagonia winds"
I have my own battle scars. I named the pic below "Five hundred", because that is how much it cost me to repair the lens when the wind picked up the tripod with the camera on top of it and landed it 10-15 ft away from me. The waves from the same lake where you see the mirror smooth reflections of the Cuernos, entirely wind driven. I was wrapped in GoreTex head to toe, with my back to the wind, taking the wave splashes on my back in an attempt to keep the lens dry for at least a few seconds. The moment you let go of anything it went flying.
GroovyGeek wrote:
Leaves in Patagonia are actually more sensitive to wind, because the fall winds in Patagonia can pick you up off your feet and plant you on your ass in a few seconds. On my 2017 trip tree limbs went from beautiful to barren in 2 days
I agree with you on this in Torres del Paine, and I should've been more careful in my comment. The winds in Torres del Paine were insane and I was knocked off a couple of times; the landscapes I encountered there were more barren, without the Lenga trees that are everywhere there and change colors.
But around El Chalten and high in the areas where the colors were strong, somehow the winds were not as bad as in the low and exposed areas. Maybe they were shielded by the rock formations, etc. I don't know but that was my observation.
Igal, absolutely stunning photography What an amazing trip and print worthy pictures. Appreciate your willingness to share. Thanks for sharing.
You have my vote
CA_Fstop wrote:
Igal, absolutely stunning photography What an amazing trip and print worthy pictures. Appreciate your willingness to share. Thanks for sharing.
You have my vote
Geez Igal.....you are going to make me go to TdP Fantastic set! So glad that you got some great light. #5 is special. The fall colors are incredible, what an experience to witness this landscape!
YGMV
keepclicking wrote:
Geez Igal.....you are going to make me go to TdP Fantastic set! So glad that you got some great light. #5 is special. The fall colors are incredible, what an experience to witness this landscape!
YGMV
Given a choice between Chalten and TdP I would pick Chalten any time of day. You get much closer to the mountains, no driving required, more moderate crowds and much more varied terrain.
This is the view you get from the gas station. Probably the best gas station view in the world
keepclicking wrote:
Geez Igal.....you are going to make me go to TdP Fantastic set! So glad that you got some great light. #5 is special. The fall colors are incredible, what an experience to witness this landscape!
YGMV
What an amazing trip and print worthy pictures. 
Appreciate your willingness to share. Thanks for sharing. 
Fantastic set! So glad that you got some great light. #5 is special. The fall colors are incredible, what an experience to witness this landscape! 