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Published: January 28th 2009
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Well we are still trying to catch up on these stories but it is hard work trying to make stories and then write about them! Its a hard life! We get up to alot. So straight to the next adventure.You may all know that we love to hike and long hikes are the best cause you get to camp and get dirty and not shower for days and also get to see some amazing places that you don´t see unless you get yourself up the mountain. So we opted for this three day hike up the mountains(The Andes). We knew it was going to be tough but we could handle it.
Day1 Destination: Frey Refugio Distance 10km Time 4-5 hrs up.
So rucksacks packed of food, 6Ls of water, tent, sleeping bags, mats and some clean undies, oh yeah and toothbrushs. We had lunch before we started and off we wnt. It was a warm day which can be tricky but there was a breeze. We were going at a good pace and dnjoying being outdoors and on an adventure.We were climbing over rockss and manoeuvering over strems. It was cool. We stopped a few times for water ans a little
bit of food but we mostly kept going.
We went through alot of woods with rivers and waterfalls, but it also got steeper. It was getting tough and the bags were getting heavier but of course we kept going and going and going and in the end it was our mistake! It got really steep about 2km from the refugio and it just kept going up and up and up. All i could do was will my feet to go one in front of the other, thats all i had to do and so we kept going, of course! One in front of the other, keep going! I wasn´t even hearing things at this stage.All i could do was concentrate on one in front of the other.
All of a sudden Joost was running towards me with no rucksack and i didn´t know what happened. Did i pass out or just totally zone out? Had Joost reached the refugio already and come back for me? He said for me to give him my rucksack. I was asking where his rucksack was and trying to get it straight in my head. I said no firstly and that it was fine but
he insisted. I gave my rucksack over thinking that the weight gone would help but it didn´t and i still had to encourage my feet to go one in front of the other but my hearing had come back and i heard Joostt say that the refugio was only 10mins away(long minutes). We reached it and it was beautiful.It was all beautiful and worth the struggle. Then Joost turned around and went back to get his rucksack and then it was a clear. He had left his rucksack down where he took mine off me. That was a really super thing for him to do. He got a big kiss for that one.
We washed firstly really quickly as the water in the lake was from the snow but it felt great and nice and warm in our clen clothes sfter. We set up the tent and then went and cooked dinnerin the refugio. It was well windy up there. We ate, washed up, brushed our teeth, took some fotos and crashed out. We were exausted. We knew we did the hike wrong with not enough brakes, water and food so for the next few days we would do it
All that was left of us at the top!
Day 1 A shadow of our former selves right.
Day2 Destination: Refugio San Martin Distance 12km Time 6-8hrs We went higher
Oh yes i must add all the water in the mountains is drinkable and so the 6 ls we took with us id like as they say bringing and apple to an orchard. Up nice and early and with some good stong coffee in us we packed up and headed upwards.
This section had some ups and downs, geographically speaking of course. We were in good spirits!The first part was a short hike to a snow sheet which was quiet high. A don´t look down kinda high but it was cool. After that for some actual climbing over boulders which we did pretty fast. At the top of this there is an amazing view of the Andes. It just goes on for ever. So once up there you must go down and so we started the decent over some very tricky loose rocks and shinkle. It was hard work and took alot out of us. So much for "coming down is easier". Never! But we made it!
I would also like to add a little something about the insect life in particular Horseflies! They hurt when they
bit and it is like they are trying to kill you as it is always when you are doing some gifficult climb or decent that they are in you face or biting you somewhere. They are almost and i mean almost impossible to kill as i ended a few of there pestering lives. As Joost said they reincarnate immediately.Kill one and there is always another.Horrible things! But back to the beautiful Andes!
After the decent there was a nice wooded area where we lunched. The weather has been brilliant which makes a big difference to my tan! HaHa!
After lunch we were going up again. This was tricky around the top trying to get around a boulder with our backpacks but of course, yes you know it, we made it! Only to see some of the same crappy stuff we went down before. A little tireder and knees a little weaker we started the decent. Pebbles in shoes and a few slips we made it down glad to see the bottom of it and the just a short 10min walk to the refugio. Your legs always feel funnny after coming down for so long, they are all wobbly. Another amazing
spot! There was no electricity so we had dinner by candle light. We met some nice people up there and had a few beers and a laugh. We headed off to bed about 11. Hey you need to sleep for this hiking stuff.Not a spring chicken anymore and boy this trip has proven that.
Day 3 Destination: A warm shwer and a bed! Bariloche Distance 15km Time not fast enough!
So up early! Ate most of the food so packs nice and light. This section was nice. Over some rickety bridges and through the woods. We were tired but we knew something nice and warm and soft was at the end. Then one thing that i do miss is the lack of wildlife. If there is some then it is hiding cause we saw very little.
This last bit was basically to get to the good stuff but of course its always that bit more. Its never around that next corner and it was getting a bit difficult now. We had actually finished the trail but there was this supposed 3km sectionwhich turned out to be 6km, i could have killed the women in the info office. In the hot
sun on a dusty road it was sucking my morale out of me rapidly. But, We made it! Got the bus which was incidently packed with lovely clean smelling people for the half hour rapido trip back to town. But it wasn´t over yet. We needed to find the hot shower and bed. and this being a busy town it wasn´t going to be easy, but we found it after three no go´s. I had said to Joost earlier that if we don´t find something in five tries i am going to a hotel, but we got lucky. It was in an israeli backpackers with really old decor, greens, oranges, browns, you get the picture. Anyway we went for the double. The guy said it was 120pesos for the first night and 100 after that. Thing was the TV was broken, not like we cared but i said how about we do a deal, so that night we slept in our comfy bed after a nice hot shower for 90pesos.
Just the way to end a brilliant but tiring three days! Love it!
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Thomas
non-member comment
Doet me haast denken dat smurven bestaan as ik Gill met d'r tas zie lopen. Een vrienden in Praag moest wel lachen toen ze je gespierde kuiten zagen in de glinsterende sneeuw... Keep following!!