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ediciones
Cambios
→Day 4: Los Perros - Paso John Gardner - Guardas
* '''Total expected time for this section''': 1h to the glacier, 45' back
===Day 4: Los Perros - Paso John Garner Gardner - Guardas===[[imagen:Paso_John_Garner.jpg|thumb|280px|right|To John Garner Gardner pass, looking west. Feb. de 2002. Image: Francisco Reyes]]
This is the hardest day. From Los Perros continue down the path across the river by the footbridge. Then turn left, heading towards the Pass. The trail has been marked in the trees for some stretch. Then cross a swampy area (it's the only part of the whole trek where gaiters would de helpful) that will last for the next hour. There are some open areas with good views.
After an hour and a half, at 760m, the trails approaches the Paso river, Cross guided by the orange markings on a narrower section. It is important to get this place right, because it is not easy to cross at other points. The path continues climbing on the other side of the river, leaving behind the swampy area. Now it is usually windy, and the terrain rocky, with the orange markings on the rocks. From several hundred meters below the pass, it becomes likely to find snow even in the summer months. If there is rain forecasted for the park, it is likely that here it will snow.
[[Image: Glaciar_grey_bajando_del_paso.jpg | thumb | 280px | right | Glacier Grey and Southern Ice Fields from the drop step. Feb. 2002 Image: Francisco Reyes]]
John Garner Gardner pass is at 1200 m., 1 ½ hours beyond the river crossing. It allowes to cross the massif of the Cordillera del Paine to the western sector of the park. The views of the Southern Ice Fields and Grey Glacier are spectacular, so, coupled with the possibility of snowfall described, it is strongly suggested to do it only with good weather. There are orange rods that serve to guide the way when the weather worsens the visibility. The descent follows a moraine, always with stunning view. The retreat of the glacier can be appreciated: the former nunatak is now a peninsula, and has recently appeared a second nunatak. After 15 minutes of descent, at 950m. the first glimpses of vegetation appear, with some ''lengas'' dwarfed and bent by the wind. As you walk through the forest, the glacier is visible through the branches. The descent is steep and demanding.
At 550 m. and after just under 2 hours of descent, an old camp sector is reached. It's a rather narrow place, nestled among the trees, indicated by the sign "Camp El Paso." Continue in a southerly direction parallel to the glacier. There are some areas with large ''lengas''.
'' 'Note' '' <br>
From this point (which in this review are listed as days 5 and 6) how to distribute your time is not as clear as on days 1 to 4. Day 7 clearly will be to Hosteria Las Torres but the starting point may vary. Day 8 (which can also be day 1) is almost fixed too (except for those willing to follow the [[Valle del Silencio]], who may take two days) so only days 6 and 7 show a significant dispersion of options among trekkers.
*Other options that combine the above.
From El Paso the pass, climb a long slope that leads to a viewpoint of the Grey. The trail continues well marked with many ups and downs, and frequent roots that must be overcome. Several small streams and a second viewpoint is then crossed. There then follow Then, keep going through an area of cliffs and old fires, where there are visible traces of burned trees. After an hour of walking you will find a broken largercreek, where a rustic ladder makes helps the ascent is reached. It is followed by a steep cliff on the banks of the Grey Glacier. Twenty minutes later , there is another gorge provided with a wooden staircase. Passed near Past the cliffs reenters area, you reenter the forest lenga of ''lengas'' and ''coigües''. Then follows another broken againcreek, with huge cliffs that drop to the glacier.
* '''Total expected time for this section (untill Los Guardas)''': 8h 45'
