Impulsion

"A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed...It feels an impulsion...this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons."

--Richard Bach

Volcan Lanin

Sometime last week I decided: next stop Volcan Lanin. The fact that I didn't have anyone to do it with seemed a bit daunting, but I figured I'd head and the direction of the moutain and see who or what I could find. On my bus out of Bariloche I met a group of five people my age from Buenos Aires who just happened to be planning their own ascent of the mountain. After a few minutes of chatting they invited me to join them and, whambam, I was part of the group. The ascent itself was amazing, as you'll see in the photos below, but spending the week with my new found friends was the best part. We laughed a lot and played a lot. In addition to three days on the volcano, we spent two days rock climbing in San Martin de los Andes. I not only did my first outdoor lead climb ever, I did my first three outdoor lead climbs ever! The rock face we went to was a perfect learning spot and full of great views!

I'm sending love, hugs and kisses to you all,

Amy

Volcan Lanin I

Me hiking up on the first day. The moutain was smoothered in clouds.

Nico

The shadow of Volcan Lanin on nearby mountains at sunset on the first day

The refugio where we spent two nights

Sunset from the refugio on day one

Martin

Caro

We were on a snowfield on the side of the mountain practicing self-arrests when "here comes a giant spider the size of my palm." It was so bizaare! Never in my life have a seen anything like it. It was so intrigued I didn't even think to be afraid... spider therapy complete. I took like 20 photos while it just meandered around.

A very wise moon

Facu

Volcan Lanin II

View of the sunset with the rising moon the night before summit day

Another view of the sunset

A neighboring volcano poking its head above the clouds, as seen while hiking toward the summit of Lanin

An early morning start. We woke up at 2 a.m. and were on the trail... I mean snowfield... by 3 a.m.

Martin hiking the final pitch to the peak. I encountered Martin and Facu as I was coming down off the summit. I decided to resummit with them, so as to take some pictures and share the moment with these two great friends.

Facu and Martin on the summit

Walter (who happened to summit the same time I did - 9 a.m.) and I on the summit

Me on top of the world... what a feeling.... and what wind... you could barely stand

We were completely off the peak by 6 p.m. An impressive mountain, eh?

Laguna Negra to Pampa Linda Part II, plus Paso a las Nubes

The hike from Laguna Negra to Pampa Linda took five days total. We then spent one night in a nice hotel in Pampa Linda. From Pampa Linda we headed to Paso a las Nubes for our final two days on the trail. What a phenomenal week! For more photos and video also check out www.andescross.blogspot.com.

Jorge diving off the dock into Lago Frias (literally "cold lake") at the end of the hike

Jorge and I on one of two boat trips we took after hiking Paso a las Nubes to return to Bariloche

Andrea and I scooshed into the back of a bus at the end of the trip

Jorge

We hiked out to a lookout called El Doctor. In addition to incredible views we had eight condors swooping above, below and beside us for over an hour. Sometimes they came so close you could hear the wind passing through their wings. Talk about a moment when you strop and think, "Wow, I have an amazing life."

Splashing in the lake we camped next to on the fourth night

Me rinsing off in water pouring down from one of Mount Tronador's ice fields

Our last camp site (6th night) on Paso a Las Nubes. There were dozens of waterfalls encircling our camp site.

Ken and Andrea above a beautiful, deep, blue lake

The view of Tronador from our campsite on the fourth night

El Doctor lookout where we spent the morning with the condors

The wingspan of condors is about 3 meters!

Breathtaking!

Laguna Negra to Pampa Linda Part I

I had an amazing opportunity to porter/help Jorge guide a trip for a really nice couple from, of all places, exactly where I grew up in Colorado. The trip was a seven day traverse of the Andes near Bariloche. The number of breath-taking, awe-inspiring moments along the way were too numerous to count. Here's a taste of the beauty I felt and experienced.

Crossing over a snowfield

Ken hanging out on a rock overlook

We had to build camp quickly on a ridge on the third night because of the onset of a random summer snowstorm. Our water came from the puddles formed in the rocks.

Andrea liked to either have sardines or tuna for breakfast. On day one I found this food selection far from appealing. By day three, in the midst of a snowstorm, I was partaking.

Our camp on the ridge (night 3)

First glimpse of Tronador for Andrea and Ken

The hut we stayed in the first night

Scrambling down a rock face on Day 2

Andrea and Ken -- the guests for the week

Cooking dinner on the second night while enjoying a good bottle of Argentine wine

The view from our camp site on the second night

Trekking photos part II

I spent the last night of my trek in a hostel in Pampa Linda, a town which rests at the base of Mount Tronador. I loved Pampa Linda. The best way I can describe it is an extremely low key version of Talkeetna. My bus from Pampa Linda back to Bariloche didn't leave until 5 p.m., so I woke up super early for an awesome run/hike up to the Tronador base camp. This is one of glaciers slidding off the side of the mountain, which I encountered on my trip up.

The view from the base camp on Tronador. With the early morning light spilling onto the glaciers the sound of ice calving filled the air. It was really cool! I took some video that I'm going to try to get posted onto my blog.

After a day of bushwacking and a night camped by the lake, Chris and I came upon the road leading to Pampa Linda. As there were two of us, hitchhiking was a bit difficult and we ended up walking most of the 17 km. stretch of dusty road (someone did pick us up for the last few kilometers). But before we began the trudge, we stopped by a really fancy lake-side hotel for a cup of coffee... we cordially suggested that we drink the coffee on the patio outside. Anywho, this is me at the hotel by Lago Mascardi... pretty huh?

Mount Tronador. I took so many photos of this mountain. I found it completely captivating.

My feet after a long day's hike that included numerous river crossings

Chris making dinner at our camp site by the lake