From the andes to the ocean
Trip Start
Unknown
1
12
29
Trip End
Ongoing
??,
Chile
Friday, July 28, 2006
anyway, this past week has been packed with all sorts of cool stuff. it all started on friday with a full day trek in the cordillera de los andes. this was super cool and i have never, nor will i ever again, seen anything like this. we went to the camnaña nacional. one of the largest parks and also an amazing environmental transitional zone. the first two hours of the hike were straight up the side of a mountain (and i do mean straight up)through an eerily beautiful oak forest on the south side face. it was very similar to the forests of western north carolina with slightly different leaves. we were informed that this is the northern most point where oaks grow in chile
a stuffed two headed sheep. i just had to
. then we reached the top of the pass and came around the turn to see miles of mountain range laid out before us. truly breathtaking. you can even see all the way to the inland corridor of the range- i.e. past santiago. we stopped and had lunch there before continuing down the north face. here is what is really cool and makes this such an interesting place, the north face is the southern most point where the palm trees grow. and the transition was immediate as soon as we came around the corner. the only time i have ever seen a palm FOREST. it was like something from a fairy tale, but better. you can literally see palm trees growing against the backdrop of snowcapped mountains. unbelievable.the next day we set off at the ungodly hour of six a.m. for the interior rocky range for a weekend of skiing and snow boarding. yes- snowboarding in the andes. how crazy-cool is that??? we were literally above the clouds. the snowline was above the clouds. and the softest ice-free slopes ever. they don´t make ´em like this in n.c. there were moments when i just had to stop and look. the view is one that makes you feel intensly just how important you really are in the world while at the same time imparting a feel of exhileration that is unlike any other experience. it is truly beyond words.
once the sun went down we all bunked down in the cutest place: refugio aleman. definitly worth checking out. all hardwood floors and walls with warm fires crackling and the friendly bar-tender bill (from oregon by the way) ready to serve up anything to warm the bones. the staff truly makes it feel like home and the food is out of this world. some of the best pork in my life, and i have eaten alot of pork in my days. unfortunatly the next day i could not walk, due to hours on the slopes after three years of no practice, so spent the day in the lodge reading and watching movies in front of a crackling fire. could not have asked for anything better.
saturday saw us all piled onto a bus in the pouring rain to visit isla negra, yet another of pablo nerudas´ homes. i must say, as eclectic as it was, it had an certain charm. but then again, i am partial to boat people, and the entire house was designed to look like the inside of a ship.
the last round of photos is from a walking tour which included the ascensores. that was crazy, but it was one of the most perfect days (weather-wise) to date. and warm!!!
