Feb 8- Losing track of days, but yesterday did a couple of shorter treks.  The weather was variable as they here.  Hard to go wrong with variable as a forecast, but what they really mean is cloudy.  Still it did give me time to trek in solitude in the Patagonia wilderness alone with my thougths as the below photo shows

Who would have thought that there would be a big group of Janpnese hikers here?  Maybe the Japan tourist agencies have diverted all the groups they used to send to Banff and El Chalten is the hot new place.  While they tend to take away a little from the rugged solitude, ((they are usually all over 70)  they are always colorful.

I had read that I should be on the lookout for some wildlife, particularly the Magellenic woodpecker (Magellan got a lot of stuff named for himself down here, but mostly birds- e.g. penguins, woodpeckers, etc. Probably was hoping for more, but did get a strait too..
Still I hardly ever see wildlife and I thought what are the chances of seeing this woodpecker?  Probably about the same as ruunning into a Japanese hiking group....

It was less than 6 feet away.  I guess that is what happens when you live a protected Parque- you get cocky.

Still I would not enjoy the life of a woodpecker.  Banging your head against a tree all day long for a few measly ants.