Towering over the town of Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino are the jagged peaks of the Dientes (or Teeth).  The closest foothill to town is called Cerro Bandera, named for the flag (bandera in Spanish) erected by the local Armada station at the summit.

Patagonian forest – the trees always grow away from the everpresent west wind

We hiked a very steep, poorly marked, and basically unmaintained trail up the side of the hill.  After a couple of hours of sweating and gasping for breath during the plentiful stops for rest, we made it to the summit.

Resting at the flag at the summit – Madrone is just visible a few thousand feet below us, in the bottom left of the photo

Once there we were rewarded with a sweeping view of the Dientes to the south, and back to town and the anchorage to the north.

At the top, we also found the exit of a gentler, very well-marked and perfectly maintained trail.  After our several hour climb, we scampered down in only 45 minutes…

Madrone at anchor with Cerro Bandera to the left and the Dientes in center of the background