Patagonia, a magnificent autumn

It was dawn, and I was awakened by the downpour. The cold wind roared from the lake, and the screen door of our semi-dome shelter swung violently. Crowded with several other hikers, I soon realized the beauty of the design of this hut: it is one of the few buildings that can withstand the extreme weather common in Patagonia. Fortunately, all of us-including my photographic equipment-are safe and dry.

But this ominous sign also indicates that this trip will be one of the most exhausting and exciting adventures in my career as a travel photographer.

One day ago, Vaque? people (cowboys and cowboys in Chile) took me and my guide on horseback for three hours. We crossed the mountains and came to a remote foothold. From there, we trekked for more than five hours, crossed another mountain stream, and reached the distant valley of France, which is a beautiful place between jagged peaks.

We plan to stay here for a few days, hiking in the valley during the day, watching waterfalls and breathtaking mountain scenery. However, inevitably, the weather in Patagonia forced us to change our plans.

Due to the obstruction of the storm, we huddled together and wanted to wait for the sudden storm to pass. But there was no sign of relaxation in the end, so we began to plan to escape. But the soaring river cut off the retreat, and Vacchino people could not reach us. The strong wind caused a big wave in the lake, so it was too dangerous to sail to save it. There is only one way for us to go: take 16 km back to the hut.

This is not an ordinary hike. The hurricane forced us to crawl on the mountain. Walking upright with a bag on your back will turn into a sail and roll people down the mountain. When crossing the river, you have to hold the rope carefully, because a mistake may be washed away by the water. Forget taking pictures, it's an impossible task.

As a photographer, I have been fascinated by the remote and rugged Patagonia scenery for many years, and I have been eagerly reading various articles about it, especially photos. However, as time goes on, I find that I seldom see it in autumn. Snow-capped mountains, vast plains, windward lakes and eye-catching cowboy costumes-almost all of them were taken in summer. So I want to create something I've never seen before.

In order to see as many fallen leaves as possible, and considering the seasonal reversal in the southern hemisphere, I plan to travel in mid-April. I choose Las Torres Reserve as my base camp, which is an eco-tourism destination located in the center of Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile.

The reserve offers a variety of accommodation options, including luxury hotels, remote hotels for hikers and many campsites. Travelers like to hike or ride horses to landmark attractions, including the three peaks of Baines National Park, Cape Baines and the Valley of France.

I am fascinated by Vaque? people and their culture, just as I am fascinated by distant scenery and extreme climate. In order to recover my sore legs and back after a long journey, I spent a day in their pasture, observing their performance in barns and corrals and their interaction with horses and guests.

Although I can speak some Spanish, it is almost impossible to understand their dialects and slang. It doesn't matter-their nonverbal communication made me understand a lot.

Vacchino people are descendants of primitive horseback herders who came to Patagonia more than a century ago. They have kept many ancestors' traditions, including their unique clothing style and their unanimous love for the herbal tea "yerba maté", which they drink together every day.