Some call it “the end of the earth.”
But however you might describe Patagonia, it is the destination for this month’s expedition to benefit Columbus Foundation For Youth.
It’s now summer in this region that spans both Chile and Argentina. That means late January and early February have the best weather for the 2019 Expedition PataGOnia, said Columbus adventurer Walter Glover, as he prepares to embark on his 12th fundraising global adventure.
Located on the southern tip of South America, the Patagonia region is where land and mountains fade into the place where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. If you continue south across the water for another 927 miles, you’ll be in Antarctica.
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While temperatures will likely hover in the low 50s most of the time in the area, Glover said it also tends to rain quite a bit this time of year in southern South America.
“If you’ve got the outerwear with you, you’ll be fine,” he said. “But if you don’t, you can be in a world of hurt.”
Glover will be joined by another local adventurer, Nancy Conner of Columbus, as well as Glover’s cousin, Indianapolis native Pilar French, on the expedition that begins Jan. 24 and ends on Feb. 11.
While Conner says her adventures include crossing seven national parks, she said this will be her first hike outside the United States.
French’s most recent experience involves a 105-mile hike across large hills in France, while Conner’s most recent expeditions involve rugged hikes in both the Smoky and Allegheny Mountains.
Glover said he’s been training for this adventure in Columbus by walking up and down the earthen mound at Mill Race Park several times carrying a heavy backpack, as well as bicycling. Conner said she hikes a minimum of 10 miles a day, although she has not been carrying a backpack.
Heading out
After catching a flight out of Atlanta, the trio from Indiana will begin Expedition PataGOnia by arriving in Santiago, Chile, and connecting with a small commuter plane that will take them to the city of Punta Arenas, near the southern tip of Chile.
That’s where they will be joined by at least 10 additional hikers, as well as up to three guides, Glover said.
The entire expedition is being coordinated and overseen by “Active Adventurers,” a New Zealand-based organization that has been in business for 25 years.
On their first day, the adventurers will board a ship on the Strait of Magellan and travel 20 miles northeast of Punta Arenas to the Magdalena Island penguin colony, according to the Active Adventurers itinerary.
Although uninhabited by humans, Magdalena is home to more than 120,000 couples of penguins that arrive each summer to reproduce. In addition to penguins, the island is also home to other unusual birds such as cormorants and Andean seagulls that Conner said she is anxious to see.
An afternoon of sea kayaking, as well as glacier climbing, in the Sea of Magellan are also on the itinerary, Glover said. While Conner says she has long enjoyed kayaking, Glover said it’s something he had never attempted before last summer.
After heading northwest of Punta Arenas, the group will spend multiple days traveling what is called the scenic “W” trek in Torres del Paine National Park, Conner said.
As the adventurers head north, they will come across Perito Moreno Glacier, where large pieces of ice can be seen falling off into nearby bodies of water.
“This is a permanent glacier,” Glover said. “So when the sun goes down, it will get cold in a hurry.”
As the trip continues, the group will be hiking close to the base of Monte Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre near the border of Chile and Argentina. Although they will not be climbing mountains, the group will cumulatively ascend 11,000 feet throughout their entire journey, Glover said.
At times, the terrain is going to be treacherous, such as when they cross areas covered by boulders or block-sized angular rocks, Glover said.
Whenever the group has to cross a glacier, they will have to wear metal plates with spikes attached to their boots called crampons, Conner said.
“I’ve never hiked glaciers before,” Conner said. “I expect they will be one of my biggest challenges on this trip.”
“Glaciers are not smooth like an ice rink,” Glover said. “They are chunky. And when you lose the sun, you can easily step into a crevasse.”
When the group leaves Chile and moves into the Santa Cruz province of Argentina, they will experience more stunning scenery at Los Glaciares National Park. One of the final aspects of the expedition will be on bicycle as they travel the 25-miles Laguna del Desierto mountain path.
Expedition PataGOnia will conclude when the trio flies from El Calafate to Buenos Aires International Airport, where they will connect with a flight back to the United States.
A worthy cause
Glover’s ability to leverage excursions to garner pledges for worthy causes has made his adventures well-known throughout Indiana. Beginning at age 59, Glover began climbing some of the world’s highest peaks such as Mt. Everest and Mt. Kilimanjaro with his fundraising efforts going to charity.
His charity, called 2Trek4Kids, was able to raise $135,000 through these expeditions for causes such as fighting childhood obesity until 2013, when Glover retired as a pastoral care hospital chaplain from St. Vincent Hospital.
In an effort to raise money for Foundation For Youth scholarships in Columbus, a 2017 expedition was made to the 17,000-foot Rainbow Mountain in Peru. Last May, a coast-to-coast trek across three national parks in northern England was completed by Glover and other companions.
All expenses are paid by the adventurers. All money raised goes to finance scholarships with the Columbus Foundation For Youth, which provides educational and recreational activities to Columbus-area children.
While Glover allows that he hasn’t yet raised his goal of $10,000 for FFY scholarships, he hopes more funds can be raised by refining and simplifying the process.
During the expedition to South America, FFY will have a link on their homepage (foundationforyouth.com) that will provide two options: Either donate to scholarships or read the blog entries and see the photos submitted by Glover and his fellow adventurers.
“I’m not going to say we’re going to post every day, but we’ll post when we can,” Glover said. “This way, people can follow along.”
A curriculum has been developed by the Foundation For Youth that will allow up to 200 youngsters to learn more about the Patagonia region such as its terrain and customs, Glover said. He is hopeful that a few local schools in Columbus will be keeping tabs on the adventurers.
Staying healthy for travel
Glover had originally wanted to conquer the Patagonia adventure last year, but chose a less strenuous journey in the United Kingdom after suffering significant injuries during a 2017 bicycle crash.
After undergoing a MRI scan just a few weeks ago, Glover said his cardiologist has informed him he is currently “in A-plus-plus physical shape.”
“I feel I’m at the top of my game,” Glover said.
When asked why he still seeks out extreme physical challenges at his age, Glover said the value of exercise and a proper diet had been stressed to him since he was a small boy.
Glover said he’s also aware of a history of heart disease on his father’s side of his family.
“My dad died at age 57 of a heart attack,” Glover said. “My brother died of the same thing when he was only 48.”
Glover, who will turn 71 at the end of the Patagonia trip, has survived acute mountain sickness at Mount Everest, broken ribs at Mount Rainier and multiple aneurysms at Mount Aconcagua, he said. He credits his desire to stay in good physical shape for making it into his 70s.
Glover said if he tried to stay in his comfort zone and lead a sedentary lifestyle, he would fear that mediocrity might seize control of his life.
But when someone conquers new challenges and keeps setting the bar higher, “it translates to the other dimensions of your life,” Glover said.
Conner, 72, says that when scholarships are awarded to kids at the Foundation For Youth, it helps each child get moving and stay active.
“We want to get the message out that, no matter what age you are, exercising and being outdoors is very important to a good quality of life,” Conner said.
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The 2019 Expedition PataGOnia will be Jan. 24 to Feb. 11.
While the expedition is going on, the Columbus Foundation For Youth will have a link on its homepage at foundationforyouth.com.
Those visiting the homepage will be provided two options: Either donate to FFY scholarships or check out the blog entries submitted by adventurers Walter Glover, Nancy Conner and Pilar French.
All trip-related expenses are paid by the adventurers. Money raised goes to finance scholarships with the Foundation For Youth.
A curriculum has been developed by the Foundation For Youth that will allow up to 200 youngsters to learn more about the Patagonia region such as its terrain and customs.
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