My husband and I are weekend hikers, in our mid-50s and consider ourselves fit but we are not experienced backpackers. I would like to hike in the Patagonia region and would like to be sure we get to hike the TDP, among others. I feel we should join a guided group hike, and would be happy to camp or stay in a fixed "lodge" . Can you recommend an established and reliable organization ?

Try Las Torres Hotel if you want to have a guide for the hike to the Towers

www.lastorres.com

However I really don't feel it is necessary, although it may be enjoyable. You can also stay in the refugios (bunk houses, you will not need to carry a tent, bedding, etc nor even food which can be bought on site).

www.fantasticosur.com
www.verticepatagonia.cl

You can look at my trip report under Chile.

I did not hike between Las Torres and Campo Italiano, but you can also find refugios and cabins at Los Cuernos.

While Fantastico Sur may be a bit scatterbrained as far as reservations, I found the management of their facilities to be very good.

Vertice Patagonia is the opposite..good at taking your money, not so great with their on-site customers service. However within TDP it's pretty much an monopoly.

Thanks mglb. I have read your trip report which was very helpful.
I think I need to read further about the nuts and bolts of doing the "W" . I need to understand the length of the hikes, whether it is done over how many days ? Is it best to move to a different lodge or camp site daily ?

Can you recommend a good source in English ? We speak no Spanish. Thanks.

There are a few different options for doing the W or parts of it.

I also found it a bit difficult to get good info on options for the W.

I wound up googling "Hiking the W" and mostly what helped was reading other blogs.

Similar to this one

http://www.travelblog.org/South-Amer...og-353279.html

Also there is an online newspaper that has some info

http://www.patagoniablacksheep.com/

The Las Torres hotel website has an English version with excursions described.

Basically there are several legs to the W and you don't have to do them all.

The Towers and the French Valley are the most difficult and most worthwhile.

The weather is critical to enjoyment. I rearranged my plan when I arrived and it appeared that the first day was going to be a good day. It was a good decision.

Oh, and yes it is most definitely advisable to move to different lodgings for each leg of the W.

Some people hike from leg to leg. I decided to base myself in two places (Las Torres) and do the hikes to Glacier Grey and to French Valley as out and back hikes.

Las Torres and Paine Grande, I meant.

Thanks . I am beginning to have a better sense of the duration and length of the hikes from point to point. www.torres-del-paine.co.uk has some examples I found helpful also. Can you tell me where Paine Grande is-is it a refugio ?

Actually after re-reading your report I see that you would not recommend Paine Grande. But it sounds like you had a great trip and you make it sound easy, both the actual hiking and the pre-trip planning !

Paine Grande is the refugio operated by Vertice Patagonia, they are at the opposite end of the catamaran acrose Lake Pehoe. I think before it was rebuilt it was known as Refugio Pehoe. Unfortunately there are not many choices along the W so you are stuck with them! If you do stay there, bring earplugs and eyemasks, and I would not order the full board package. Just pay as you go. There may be better food up at the bar.