We got up at 6am before dawn and discovered the wind was very strong. However, I discovered that the large shed by the lake had missing window panes and in some places the floor was concrete making it an ideal protected location to operate from. You can see the barn in the last image in the previous post.
Looking towards the Viedma Glacier before dawn from near the red shed.
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Looking in the other direction, towards the eastern end of the lake
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Looking across the lake past the horse corral
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Estancia Helsingfors is a wonderful place that sets a very high bar for the rest of the journey: secluded, comfortable, inside a national park, spectacular scenery, great meals, activities laid on. We were also specially fortunate in that we were the only guests there at times.
Later that morning we went for a walk of several kilometers west of the estancia to a point that was so windy you had to be careful not to be blown away.
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Looking towards the glacier
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In the afternoon we went for a walk east of the estancia to a lagoon with ducks and geese and a sheltered valley with a view across the lake (Lago Viedma). Wandering along the lake shore on the way back, our guide Martiniano showed us several ammonite fossils (say 450 million years old) from the local rocks.
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Back at Helsingfors, there was still a strong wind blowing across the lake and Martiniano organised the horses for the night.
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Across the lake towards Mt Fitzroy
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Martiniano on his horse “Toro”. We found out later that this horse is young and crazy and its previous trainer is in hospital following a kick.
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Murray Foote 
Looking good Murray, love that shot of Viedma Glacier!
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Thanks, Gerry
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Action requries knowledge, and now I can act!
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Not cheap but a great place to stay.
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[…] 4th March: Patagonia (Helsingfors) […]
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[…] 4th March 2011: Patagonia (Helsingfors) […]
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If I were a Tengeae Mutant Ninja Turtle, now I’d say “Kowabunga, dude!”
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🙂
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Nice shots Muzza. You’ve got the touch for it…
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Thanks, Frank.
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What amazing colours and contrasts! I have always wanted to go to Patagonia.
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Getting up before dawn often makes a big difference. Helsingfors is a very special place, isolated in the middle of a National Park. Very expensive but worth it.
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[…] and Glaciar Viedma leading to Lago Viedma. There are some distant glimpses of the glacier in this 2010 post when I was staying at Estancia Helsingfors on the shores of Lago Viedma, and some of Mount Fitroy […]
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