Despite being spectacularly immense and uniquely beautiful (even by glacier standards) Piero Moreno is famous as one of the few easily accessible ´visibly advancing´ glaciers in the world today. A seemingly endless sea of ice sculpted by wind and time into turquoise-blue waves, folds and spires; it looms silently 60m above the clear waters near where the average non-alpine enthusiast can safely view occasional house-sized chunks crashing into the surrounding lake after deafening cracking noises.
Geoff, Ettienette, Nicole and I were not going to miss the opportunity to see one of nature´s forces at it´s spectacular best, however our afternoon proved more memorable when choosing to embark on a traverse up and over the glacier itself. With the addition of hired cramp-ons and gloves for protection against the razor-sharp ice particles making-up the glacier surface, we found traversing the alien landscape of crests and crevices quite a workout. Our Spanish speaking guides enthusiasm to push us further AND the sheer exhilaration of navigating such steep slopes without support sticks provided enough distraction from the feeling of muscle burn though.Certainly after this I would recommend anyone attempt a glacier mini-trek at least once in their lifetimes for the experience, plus the photography opportunities were endless.
