Eco Camp and the W Trek!

That night we made it to Eco Camp and gathered our bearings. We were prepped by our guides for the week ahead then given a tour . This place was like none other. Essentially, it is a little campus of sustainably practices and solar energy. The accommodations are dome like structures with no heat or electricity. The little huts were very quaint but SO cold. The domes keep out rain, snow and wind but that’s about it. The wind would whip across the roof at night threatening to blow the lid off things! I felt like Dorothy in Kansas.

The W Trek is located in Torres Del Paine National Park in southern Chile. My assumption was it was named after the formation of the mountain peaks which resembled a W. But no, no. It is called the W Trek because the trek follows a W formation through lakes and valleys.

Much of the week reminded me of the Camino de Santiago. I felt totally off the grid and because of this, there was a profound opportunity to connect with others. My group was made up of two Australians, a Brazilian, an English gal, an Irish couple and seven Americans (counting Jamie, Jackie and me.) One of my favorite parts of my travel so far has been the ability to learn about people and their way of life. Anyone who knows me, knows I am a question asker. I like to know the random details of a person and how this shapes the path they take in life. One friend has nicknamed me the “Oprah” of our workplace because I want to know how a person really feeeels about a situation. Typically on something like the W trek you find a variety of like-minded people. Or maybe the experience lends itself to an open attitude. Everyone is ‘technology-free’ and there is very little to do other than talk to the people around you.

I love it! And I don’t hold back. I will ask people the most random questions. One night over drinks in the common area dome (yes of course they had this-as well as the dining dome, yoga dome, and happy hour/socializing dome) I said to the Irish couple “I just don’t get Galelic. Everyone in Ireland speaks it but you also speak English? So how does that work?” I like to throw an open-ended question out there and hear all about it. Another day, I was walking with an Australian guy and we starting chatting about the differences between Australian and American. The governments, society, immigration and involvement in the war. I noted that Australia doesn’t seem to get any of the criticism that the US does. “It’s true,” he stated “everyone loves the Ozzies. America can get a bad wrap.” I find it so fascinating to not only learn about other’s cultures but to hear their views on the American culture.

What more can I say about this amazing experience? Honestly, my words won’t do justice. And the pictures won’t do it justice either. The W Trek in Torres Del Paine National Park is an untouched natural beauty.