Bulls, lost sunscreen and stupid questions.

Trip Start May 20, 2008

Trip End Sep 2009

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Flag of Argentina Bariloche, Argentina
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

I went for a hike through the mountains around Bariloche. Leaving from the camping ground I passed a old truck which had pulled over to the side of the road. As I approuched I noticed a group of shapy looking blokes sitting in the shade beside beside the truck. As I got closer that started muttering somthing abd I didnt take much notice. I passed the rear of the truck and they kept repeating something, so I decided to stop and see what they where asking or saying. I went to the rear of the truck where there was a bull tied up and who was sitting down, as i got closer the bull, which is what they where warning me from got up and proceeded to chase me, luckily the rope holding it to the truck held otherwise I would of had a more exciting story to tell.
The walking was harder than expected. It has been a while since I have done and extended walking. The scenery was great, plenty of lakes and mountains to keep the eyes busy. My first night I camped at Refugio Frey about 4 1/2 hours from where I started. The refugios here are manned with staff throughout the busy months and also they are stocked with some types of food, mainly sweets. It is possible to order meals if needed, but they are not cheap as all the supplies are hiked up. The camp ground was busy with alot of scout groups aswell as climbers. There are a couple of nice rock faces and spires close by , I heard a couple of american accents.
The second day was an 8 hour walk to the next refugio, Jakob. Also set on a lake with a similliar landscape to Frey. After I arrived a load of kids showed up and didnt they shut up until after I went to bed. It was very annoying, they definantly spoiled the atmoshphere that night. The third day involved a climb up to a pass and then a rough track down and out of the park. I got lost for about 30 minutes when the track I was following decided to end. I tried a few different ways through thick bamboo which I thought looked like paths, but ended up going nowhere and lost my sunscreen from out of my pocket. I planned to walk back to the river which was heading to a lake where I was hoping to end up. On the way back I found the correct path which took a 90 turn to the right from the original track, frustrating! I eventually found my way out and came accross an old man who I couldnt understand very well, although he did finally show me the way to the campsite, after I paciently pretended to understand him. The last day I had to follow the road back to home as the track I was supposed to follow went through a private property and who made it clear not to pass through. The road around the lake took a while and made me a little upset when it decided to vier? away from my destinantion. I came across a dirt road which had no sign of where it was going which I ended up taking. I was pretty tied by that stage and over the walking. I was surprised that I was stoped twice by two cars who asked me directions! A gringo walking down a dirt road with a backpack, he would seem a strange person to ask for directions. The second time a car stopped i just gave them the �what, are you stupid look��. Shortly after I took a lift from a nice paser-by and was relieved to find out I was on the right road. Four days of hiking may of been a little much.