Patagonia,

Argentina,

7th March - 28th March 2010

 

  
 
Mountains in Patagonia - probably more remote than what we're likely to see!
 
It's one of life's opportunities that doesn't come around often. My mate in Cape Town from school days, Ralph Pina, with whom I have also done a fair amount of hiking, brought the trip to Patagonia and the website & company Treksa, run by a couple he has met on a hike, to my attention. Elena is Argentinian and Kelson Brazilian and they both live in Cape Town. I went online yesterday and filled in the registration form and then the cursor hovered.... about the submit button. Ralph and I have been trying to psych one another up to commit to this thing. The adventure is similar, in a way, to my going on the 46-day African overland trip and climbing Kilimanjaro as I did in the 1990's: http://www.oocities.org/yosemite/trails/6676/whichway.htm. So I thought, well, if he (Ralph) doesn’t go, I’d still go, so I clicked the submit (this was in the afternoon). Sometimes this instinct just well, happens! Treksa only take 6 people so by yesterday evening, Ralph ended up being no. 7; however, they've accepted him. I don’t know how many lives he has left but I reckon he's just expended one of them.

The trip is from 7 March until 28 March 2010 (21 days), starting in Buenos Aires. Sounds like a fit bunch of bastards, though. I’m not worried about that as much as my ankle, as it is either ok or it isn’t, you know. My hypothyroidism, which brought on the water retention issue around the ankles two years ago and which I subsequently managed to get under control until it resurfaced and which the doctor still thinks is a mere sprain, is not the only thing to be concerned about. I also take medication for cholesterol and have recently discovered that my sugar levels are elevated (impaired fasting glucose). We will be coming out of a UK winter, so I will have to also try and get into the Xerox gym, depending of course what the continued recession brings forth in Blighty in the near future.
 

Official website - Treksa     Patagonia Itinerary
 
Day 1 – March 7th : Starting in Buenos Aires. You’ll be picked-up from airport and transfer to comfortable accommodation. The rest of the day can be used to relax or sight seeing…

Day 2 – March 8th : We’ll have a group meeting after breakfast , and then we can go out to enjoy an exciting day in Buenos Aires !!

Activity Options :

Walking Buenos Aires Grade A – you’ll have 5 different walks to choose from (2 hour to 4 hour).
Shopping!
Visit St Elmos + Craft market + Art Gallery +Plaza Dorrego (all in one place!!)
Visit Old Fashion Cafes–
Parrillas for lunch
Tango Festival in March/ Tango Show/ Tango Lesson
Visit Palermo Huge Park, and join the “portenos” (as the city inhabitants are known) in their daily walk !
Mate time + Tortafritas (Argentinian tea ceremony)
Recoleta Cemetery – You’ll find Evitas grave there + on Sunday there is Craft Market + Street Preformers.
Feria Mataderos (Big Market) –At Barrio Mataderos, not to be missed !!
End the day with pizza or pancake evening dinner with a local family.

Day 3 – March 9th : We say goodbye to BA ! A walk to Retiro bus station, and we take a bus to the Patagonia town of Bariloche leaving in the morning arrive in Bariloche next morning. This trip we love because of the stunning sceneries we will travel through.

Day 4 – March 10th : Arrive at Bariloche early morning, and a short bus trip will get us to our hostel , we’ll settle in. Everyone will then meet at the plaza for a picnic of “empanadas and vino tinto”, (a very traditional Argentinian picnic) then a group meeting to asses all the gear to be ready for the trekking. The rest of the day can be spent by exploring the beautifull village of Bariloche.

Day 5 – March 11th : We’ll start the day early, to go and tackle the Lynch-Frey Trek, a day trek, Grade B from Villa Catedral, A combination of rugged mountains, cool lakes and pleasant forest. Excellent views of the glaciers Cerro Tronador.

Day 6 – March 12th : Next morning we depart to El Bolson , to the south of Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, it is a useful tourist centre for the numerous trekking opportunities to be had in the outlying area. We’ll arrive early afternoon, walk to a divine camping site, settle in, then you can spend the evening at your own leisure.

Activity Options:

You can visit the “Bosque Tallado” (Sculpted Forest)
Don’t miss visiting El Bolson Brewery !!
Just hang out and explore the town.
Day 7 – March 13th : We’ll have time to have a leisure breakfast, pack our gear, make our “food shopping list” for our in-coming big hike, and go shopping for the food, and for other gear-bits that someone might be missing. As well we will spend a few hours Off setting Carbon Emissions with Treksa planting tree project . After that we’ll take bus from El Bolson to Lago Puelo – Walk to camping – make camp, and enjoy the rest of the day strolling on the beaches of Rio Azul.

Day 8 – March 14th : And here is where the fun begin !! we start the 6 day trek of Senda Los Hitos. This trek fords the Río Azul and will lead us (five kilometers) to Arroyo Las Lágrimas, where through-hikers to Chile can complete Argentine border formalities. Five kilometers farther west, Chilean Carabineros will finish our paperwork. That day we aim to walk 5/6 hours, Grade B. Camp in the Chilean wilderness !

Day 9 – March 15th : Trekking Parque Nacional Lago Puelo – Camp in the wild.

Day 10 – March 16th : Trekking Parque Nacional Lago Puelo – Camp in the wild.

Day 11 – March 17th : Trekking Parque Nacional Lago Puelo – Camp in the wild.

Day 12 – March 18th : Trekking Parque Nacional Lago Puelo – Camp in the wild.

Day 13 – March 19th : Trekking Parque Nacional Lago Puelo – Camp in the wild.

Day 14 – March 20th : We will arrive in the morning to Puelo ( Chile) – we’ll take the bus to Cochamo – Arriving early afternoon – nice and tired, so after settling in our eco-hostel, we will rest the afternoon away, then have an dinner cooked for us !!

Day 15 – March 21th : This day we will enjoy a slow pace – We will go through our gear, (there will be washing and cleaning for sure !!) we’ll shop for the next trek – then enjoy exploring the pretty village of Cochamo – Its situated in a striking setting. On the east shore of the estuary with the volcano behind and as a small, frequently deserted waterfront, where the beaches allow you to sit and admire the view. Dinner together !!

Day 16 – March 22th : Start the 5 day Trek Grade C , Gaucho Trail :

The horseback journey from the Pacific across the Andes onto a plateau of lakes, waterfalls, rivers and ancient forests. Follow the legendary 300 year old pioneer trail, a horse path, once used by Indians, Spaniards, Missionaries and the notorious outlaw duo Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.. You will walk through the pristine wilderness of the Andes passing granite mountain peaks, 3000 year old Alerce forest and the amazing variety of wildlife. Today it is used by gauchos and their families who drive their cattle between pastures on the Patagonian frontier.

Day 17 – March 23th : Gaucho Trek – Camp in the wild

Day 18 – March 24th : Gaucho Trek – Camp in the wild

Day 19 – March 25th : Gaucho Trek – Camp in the wild

Day 20 – March 26th : Gaucho Trek – Camp in the wild

Day 21 – March 27th : Here the Gaucho Trek finishes, we walk to the road, and we will take the bus to Bariloche, we will get there early afternoon, we will settle in the Eco Hostel – Then go out to celebrate an amaizing trip by having our final dinner together.

Day 22 – March 28th : end of the Trip !
 
 

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