Perito Moreno Glacier

You just have to see it.  I will try to show you through pictures and words, but it will truly be impossible to fully explain its awesome size and gigantic beauty.  So, a glacier (for those who are not totally in the know) is an extended mass of ice formed from snow falling and accumulating over many many years and moving very slowly through the mountains.  Glaciers carved the earth thousands of years ago and created dramatic rock formations (ie. the rocky mountains).  Most glaciers around the world are drastically decreasing in size because of the warming temperature of the earth.  We can find glaciers in almost all mountain ranges, but these glaciers are small and withering away.  The Perito Moreno Glacier is the gladiator of all glaciers.  One of the few stable (if not growing!) glaciers, this is the biggest block of ice in all of the world!  Weighing in a 97 square miles and 19 miles in length this block of ice and snow is the size of approximately 48,000 football fields. 

right?  huge!

This unmatchable glacier is a gorgeous blue hued block of ice with its surface of spires giving it a majestically look.  This beast seems to be alive... huge chunks of ice cracking with sounds similar to gun shots and then dropping into the Lagos Argentine with a canon ball splash.  Freezing water whirl pooling, bobbing up and down in show until the few moments pass and the water is calm again.  Then, the fallen icebergs just float away, independent of the form they once were, but eventually shall return in some way :)

We took the tour that brought us onto the ice.  Expensive, it was the only option which allows you to touch this giant!  We embark on the boat that drops us off on the shore net to the glacier, we meet our guide, and after a few lessons regarding the area he straps the oldest crampons I have ever seen on our feet.  ---To the ice!----
Just like the world, you forget (or can not grasp) the grandeur and expansiveness of this diamond when you are walking on it... but it sure was entertaining!

They walked us around like you would walk a toddler around the house, allowing the experience to be the the simple steps in a new environment.  Nothing about this "mini-trek" was exciting, dangerous, exhilarating, exhausting, or adventurous.  We just walked around some ice with crampons on, which was fine and fun!  We saw a few mini crevasse and holes but nothing of real mountaineering stature.  The last part of the tour was to an ice bar with the option to drink whiskey (The Famous Grousse brand!) on the rocks.  I hate that stuff, but "when in rome"!  We also walked through an ice cave, which was crazy!  This glacier won the award of the most amazing thing that I have ever seen.  After the tour we took the boat back and the went to the "balconies".  From over a half a mile away, you could finially see most of the glacier.  Even from this distance, the sounds of ice falling from the big mama were loud and amazing to watch.  I could watch it for hours!  I am sick of trying to describe this, for my words prove nothing, so here are some photos! :)

   pretty much my favorite part of the tour.