The highlights for me (being a mountain person) were the enormous and abundant glaciers and always the thought that I was seeing only a fraction of the ice that makes up the South Patagonian Ice Cap. Another highlight was the weather! We were blessed with clear sunny days that offered perfect views in all directions. Saw quite a lot of wildlife but no pumas ;( My group was fantastic. Lots of fun, supportive and caring. Guides too.

Amazing! Patagonia lived up to my expectations but would have been very different if the weather had been bad.

Maybe

Swoop's service was good and Harriett recommended exactly the right trip. Thank you for the buff and the Santiago recommendations that arrived too late for me to take with me but for next time! I had to use your Whats App contact when my transport didn't turn up in El Calafate to transfer me to El Chalten on Dec 17 to join the group. You replied immediately but, in the end, it was Walk Patagonia that helped to sort the problem. You should know (and also WP) that in order to wait for a pick up at the Hostal Perito Moreno close to the bus station they want 400 Arg pesos. For this money you can leave your bags and use their wifi and toilets. The pick up arrangement was a mess. Noone phoned me to advise of the delay, I had to call Walk Patagonia twice (fortunately I used Skype). A shuttle turned up 40 mins late and it looked as if I was going to arrive in El Chalten around 2200h thus missing dinner and a briefing. A very lucky encounter at the airport (where we headed next) saw me hook up with our guide, Juliana, and two members of the group who had been delayed. Problem solved.

• I have talked about the transport under 'Swoop' feedback. • Juliana & Pablo, our guides, were fantastic. SO informative. Brilliant. • Loved the unusual touches eg dinner across the river from El Chalten in an early Danish settler's house (what was his name? Not Fitzroy?). • Enjoyed the third day's hike to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. FAR fewer people. Walked up a little peak and got great views of the Fitzroy massif from a different angle plus extensive views in the other direction.

• Highlights - ALL the glaciers and French Valley day. • Hike was just right. As a group we had similar capabilities so it worked well. Itinerary was varied and interesting eg going in using zodiacs (real fun); staying at the estancia on the final night • Guides: Pablo and Katty were fantastic. Lots of local knowledge. Thoughtful and caring when required. • Accommodation: fine • Packed lunches were very good and plentiful. • Nice to have a private transfer to Punta at the end of the trip.

A few things you might add to the kit list: • You mention blisters (and a few people were patching up their feet every morning). I find that carrying medicated foot powder and applying every morning stops my feet getting sweaty and blister prone. • We all had our gear in Dry Bags but I don't think they are on your kit list. They are essential 1) to keep kit dry if it rains (it didn't!) 2) if you have larger ones they can be used to leave gear at various points on the W when a full pack is not necessary. • One of the members of our group was bitten by bedbugs in a Refugio. You had advised me to take a sleeping bag liner (I have a silk one). Is this on the kit list? Shoud it be?