I take quite few day hikes and I thought I would share some with you to give you a flavor of what fun a day out can be….
Patagonia – Day 7
My time is drawing to a close on this adventure. I must say, it has probably been the best one since the Camino. It is not the best due to the varied trekking, as there was limited hiking on this one, but the people, the atmosphere and the experience were just “fantastic”. I am always asked when I get home if this is a place I would come back and visit. The simple answer is yes, I love the area, but I would want to add some things, such as a trip to Tierra del Fuego to visit the southern part of the Americas. I know, you thought I was pretty far south, but you can go further. Also, there are some great trekking areas in Chile that would be nice to hike. The Patagonia region is so expansive, I don’t think I could ever cover even all of the highlights. Plus there are other places in the world that are still calling.
That brings up the next question, no literally the “next” question. I don’t know right now, but I know I want to keep active and trying to accomplish things that are still out here and will challenge a guy like me. That is not to say that day to day life is not a challenge, but sometimes you have to mentally and physically push yourself to see if and where the limits are and if you find those limits, how do you stretch them or conquer them. I want to know that even if the challenge beats me, which it does on certain days, I want to know that I have given all I have on that day to beat it. Is this a macho thing of man vs the world, no, it is a human thing of knowing God gives us greater power than we think we have and he will show us how to use that power if we just ask.
Tomorrow I get on a few airplanes and head home, now that the activities of this trip are done, I am ready to head home: my wife, my family, my town, my friends, my job and my real life. I will miss my adventure family that I am leaving, they are such great people and wonderful characters. I have made lasting friends. It is always your partners that make trips like this so memorable.
A very special thanks to the woman I love. Last year, I told her I needed to start doing two trips a year, she wasn’t listening well and just casually said ok. BUT, I was listening and I always take her at her word, so hopefully the “next” will be soon!!!!
2 Timothy 1:7
(disclaimer, I may have used a Bible verse before in my blog over the last few years, but using one multiple times is ok according to the Great One)
Patagonia – Day 6
Well we make the van transfer back to El Calafate this morning. It was sad to leave El Chalten, such a peaceful mountain town. I hope that someday I will be back to enjoy this area.
As this was a transfer day, it was my first day to actually take a short power nap, it is amazing what one of those does for you. If you haven’t tried one lately, my suggestion is you do and let me know if it refreshes. Our new digs for next two nights is a nice hotel & spa. I don’t think anyone is taking advantage of the spa. This is a comfortable way to end the adventure.
Tonight we went to an agricultural tourist site, a working sheep ranch. It really was a good time, even for a kid from West Texas that grew up in and around ag. We drove 40 miles on a dirt road to get to the ranch, it was nothing impressive, but still nice and well maintained. The history was that it started as a working ranch in the early 1900’s by European immigrants from World War I. They started with a lease of 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) and grew to a 60,000 sheep herd. In the late 1930’s, the government placed all of the land in National Park status and reduced the ranch to a small size capable of holding 150 sheep and 60 cows, but allowed the lease holders special terms of a cheap lease and ability to commercialize the tourist aspect. Today, the ranch is still owned by 2 of the family descendents. It is an interesting history.
The ranch has 4 full year gauchos that maintain the 120 sheep, 50 cows and 20+ horses. There is guest quarters on the place and a restaurant facility. Once we arrived, there was a short introduction to the ranch, then a 45 minute horseback ride, with lovely scenery. Yes, this was a leisurely stroll by some older horses. After the ride, there was a sheep that was sheared with old hand shears, it was interesting and gave a somewhat historical perspective. For those that don’t have an ag background I am sure this was very special to see these things.
The night ended with dinner in their restaurant facility, really a small dining hall, as all they feed is the 10 to 20 people touring that evening. The first thing we saw walking back up to the dinning hall was a half rack of a lamb cooking over the fire. Yes, it did smell delicious. The dinner was a great salad, the roasted lamb, some sausage and dessert. Then back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep with a full belly.
All in all, today was just a relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable day.
Psalm 104:14
Patagonia – Day 5
Wow, another day in Patagonia, each day is so special in its own way. I can’t believe I just have two more active days here. Tomorrow we transfer back to El Calafate and tomorrow afternoon go to a working ranch (estancia) to see the activities and eat an asada dinner. This will be a cultural experience and for most of those that are city dwellers, it will be a great and very different experience.
Our few days in El Chalten were very special, this a comfortable mountain town, but a mountain town in an area where there are no winter sports so most of the town will start shutting down for the winter season. The people hear are nice and appreciate the hikers coming into the area. Also, this group I am with is very much in hiking and active sports. Sometimes I wonder what I am here doing with all these physical overachievers. I guess in my mind I want to be a physical overachiever too. But really, I want to make sure I am allowing myself to grow and experience life and trekking and hiking is one way I enjoy experiencing life. Some people will think why is hiking 15 miles a day or even 5 miles a day enjoyment. I wish I had an answer, but I don’t. I just know all of us have things or activities in life that we enjoy, some might enjoy watching sports, some might like being involved in Church activities, some just knitting a scarf. I am glad we each have something that peaks our interest. Those things should be a blessing to you and give you some gratitude to the life that God gives each of us. We never should be ashamed or embarrassed in our likes, hobbies or activities.
It is 10:30 in the evening and all of us are sitting in the hosteria common area just visiting, a very pleasant way to end the evening. It is nice how people with common interest can come together as strangers and then be sitting around each evening, laughing and sharing.
My wish for each of us that we all find a place in life that excites us and then embrace that part.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Patagonia – Day 4
It was a good day to take a long hike in beautiful country.
One thing about this trip is how great the people are who I am trekking with. This is one where all become one family for a week. We have two great guides in Marie and Nick, they enjoy what they do and are both young enough to still have wanderlust and use this to fulfil some of that. But also, they take their role serious, hence that makes them perfect for this group. My roommate for the week is Hugh, a 62 year old retired animal vet, he is like me, just staying active and loving the life that God has given him. There is Angela, a young professional ( I am getting to the point in life that a lot of people look young) that is changing jobs and using the time between to just follow her heart. She is an ultra trail runner, so she puts us all to shame on condition. It is admirable to see a young professional that has such a good grasp of life. There is Marie (2), a flight attendant that is just using a week off to enjoy life, she is one of those pleasant souls. Then there are Glenda and Jon, triathletes and professionals that are just getting a break from their responsibilities. Glenda is outgoing and Jon is the opposite, reserved. Glenda says they are ying and yang. The homes of all are St. Louis, Dallas, Dallas, Dallas, Houston and Chicago. They are all great.
Proverbs 17:17
Patagonia – Day 3
Today was a transfer day in the morning, we had a van ride for 180 kilometers to the north to a town called El Chalten. This is a mountain town built around access to the hiking and Glacier National Park. It has no winter sports, so it will slow down a bunch in May through August (seasons are opposite here). It is a nice town, but not a cute town. A good place to rest your head and eat a good meal.
The transfer was actually nice, the driver stopped at several view spots, a coffee stop and even to watch the gauchos herding sheep down the road. Well actually the dogs were herding the cowboys were just riding behind as backup to them. Jerry would have loved the gauchos as they wore the beret type hats instead of cowboy hats. Finally we also stopped about 1k from the town to view the difference, which was amazing because we were going from a semi-arid plains area to a town that was 70% surrounded by mountains.
Once here, we checked into the hostel and then off to eat a really nice lunch. Also, I am also writing this after dinner, a really nice dinner. It seems like the food is good and reasonably priced down here, so we have eaten well…
After lunch, it was off to a short hike to stretch the legs, get some fresh air and take in some great views again as we hiked up above the villlage. Tomorrow we take a more serious hike of 11 miles up to a mountain lake that is fed by a smaller active glacier. My guess is the views will be exponentially better the higher up we go.
While away from home (Sherry, Family, Office, Dimmitt and the Panhandle), I always think about how lucky I am to live where I live with the family and friends I have. I always miss home and at times during each day have thoughts about I am ready to get back home, then I think about how blessed I am to still have the health and ability to do these things like going to Patagonia to trek. I truly am blessed.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Patagonia – Day 2
Well, today was a great day. Today I had the privilege of walking on the Moreno glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the world and one that is growing daily. Currently it is pushing forward 2 to 3 meters every a day, although close to that falls off each day. This glacier is 170 to 250 feet high above the water and over 500 feet deep below the waterline. It is impossible to understand the magnitude of its size until you actually stand close to it. Maybe the pictures below will show a little of that size. God created glaciers to reflect the sun’s heat and to create a supply of fresh water. This glacier feeds to gigantic lakes, at its head, one to the south and one to the west, within a several hundred yard area, you can see the different currents feeding the lakes. The glacier grows from the moisture brought in from the Pacific that hits the Andes and drop snow and freezing rain.
Today we heard and saw some small calving of the glacier. The sound is like a large thunder. The ones we saw created giant splashes and then large waves. It was observing nature at its grandest.
To say it was fun is a dramatic understatement. While we changed from a 3 to 4 hour walk on the glacier to a two hour smaller hike with all the tourist, it was still a great adventure and all in the group thought it one of their best days outdoors. We took a bus from El Calafate to the Glacier National Park, then took a boat from a central dock to a point at the east corner of the glacier. From there, the local guides gave us helmets and crampons to walk with on the ice. Then up and onward to the glacier for a majestic hike on the glacier. We stayed on the safer areas, away from the wide cravases at the absolute top, but still saw small cravases with water melt running down to who knows how deep. All was amazing. Walking through columns of ice that stood 30 feet tall to each side made one feel small. Seeing the melt happening (not global warming, but nature working to create fresh water) was amazing to see the volumes of water it can create. It was so amazing being on and feeling a part of one of God’s great inventions.
I hope all who read this are having a great day, we have to remember each day is a gift and a blessing.
Psalm 95:4