El Bolson

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Given that the mountains around Bariloche were snowed in, I decided to head south to the town of El Bolsón ("the handbag"), named so because it sits at only 200 m elevation surrounded by lush mountain ranges.

This town became sort of a hippy haven starting in the 60s and is now famous for its microbrews, ice cream and chocolate. I couldn´t have been happier...

After resting a bit at a hostel outside of town, a group of us (Kati from Germany, Oscár from Buenos Aires, and David from San Diego) headed up into the mountains for a 3 day hike. Having eschewed the luxuries of refugios up to this point, I decided to at least buy dinner in them, although I insisted on carrying my tent. The first day´s hike was a thigh burner with 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Finally we arrived at the Hielo Azul, ´blue ice´, refuge run by the Club Andino Piltriquitrón (try saying that fast 3 times in a row). We celebrated that evening with a tasty goulash stew and a bottle of good Argentine wine. I must say it didn´t really feel like camping! The next morning we hiked up to the Hielo Azul glaciar which is sadly slowly retreating, like every glaciar on this continent except of Perito Moreno. The rest of the hike included a steep down hill, more refugios and their kitties.

I´ve decided that if I can´t find work in Madison, El Bolsón may be a good place to settle down.

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Photos

Blue Ice Glaciar
The Hielo Azul Glaciar

Refugio
This one was run by the Club Andino de Piltriquitrón.

celebration
At Oscár´s insistance, we celebrated the first night with dinner and wine in the refugio.

glacial evidence
Look at this gorgeous striations! I love glaciars...