Mount Fitzroy is one of the iconic landmarks of Patagonia. The distinctive peak and the surrounding smaller mountains create the jagged trademark of the region. At the northern end of El Chalten the trailhead for Laguna Capri is one of the busiest places in town. Everyone here is either hiking, trekking or climbing . After two days of rain the ground is muddy, but the sun is shining and the parking lot is packed with cars and trucks. There are two trails that draw most of the visitors, a thirteen mile hike to Mt. Fitzroy itself, or a six mile hike to Laguna Capri.

The Laguna Capri trail starts uphill through wind tortured trees and low brush on a series of switchbacks, then through a notch in the mountains to a small blue lake .

We started with sunny skies, but as the hike progressed the clouds and wind gradually picked up, and a misty rain hung in the air. The trail was in good shape, and quite wide except a few spots where rocks or trees funneled everyone into a single file.

We got our first view of Fitzroy as we emerged from the trees near the top of the climb, a canine tooth of rock swirled with mist

We walked to the lake, where the full beauty of the mountains was on display. A large bird that looked like an eagle landed on a nearby tree and began begging scraps from the hikers. Someone tossed a crust of bread but he looked at it dismissively. This was a Crested Caracara, which seems to have found an ecological niche somewhere between a regal eagle and a begging seagull.

The hike back to the parking lot was uneventful and we headed back to the hotel for a nice nap before dinner. Tomorrow we’re going to see a glacier up close.