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