Ascending out of the forest landscape shifts from lush to barren, save a few bubbling springs that you come across while making your way to the foot of John Gardner Pass. The pass winds up a trail of talus with a faint switchback or two, but all in all isn’t as difficult as it’s hyped up to be and takes under an hour to reach the apex. If the Patagonian weather god favors you this day, upon reaching the top you’ll be overwhelmed by the sheer enormity and vastness which lies before you. The Southern Patagonian Ice Field takes up an almost 180 degree panorama, with looming mountains further to the West that lay enveloped in the relentless ice. This is personally my favorite view within the park and the highlight of the circuit, although when it comes down to it everything’s relative. Whatever it may be that you believe in, while you’re up here overlooking the phenomenon of nature you feel ever closer to that one thing.
After picking your jaw up off the rocky floor you start the descent to Campamiento Paso which is longer than the ascent to the pass, and consists of rocky trail mixed with rutted out dirt steps. Doing this during a good rain would be treacherous as most of the crucial hand railing is broken down, and the dirt path would become a “slip n’ slide”. Once the trail “flattens” out you’ll eventually arrive at Campamiento Paso. It’s tucked away in a mountainside forest overlooking Glacier Grey with phenomenal vantage points. The camp is free, and has a restroom and cooking area available as well as a creek running through camp that allows water access. Most of the campsites are level and manageable, although some spots leave you a mere five feet from your neighbor. Overall Paso is a great campsite, and for being free you really can’t beat it.
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