Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Patagonia Suggestions

Does anyone have any first hand experience in Patagonia, or can you recommend any particularly good travel books for the area? I would like to spend 2 weeks in the area, but have yet to determine whether I should go thru Chile (Torres Del Paine) or Argentina? Ideally, I would spend most of the trip trekking (not necessarily ice climbing). I really dont want to spend any time in those big fancy (read: expensive) hotels. So, Im looking on really where to go, what to see, etc.
thanks and happy trails...

Walk the circuit and visit the main towers in Torres del Paine park. That'll do you for two weeks. Lonely Planet has a decent trekking guide for Patagonia.

Check out Chalten in Argentina and spend at least two or three days hiking around Fitz Roy. It is great there and makes a great combination along with the Torres del Paine in Chile for a Patagonia experience - note though distances between two are significant but worth the drive.

An option in your time frame would be to do the W-circuit in Chile (5-6 days), 3-4 days in Chalten, walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier (1 day) and stay in Calafate that night. Including the day to get there and day to get back your two weeks are used pretty efficiently.