Patgonia! PLUS Podcasts

If you haven't signed up for Patagonia! Plus podcasts, here's an easy way to do it.  Just click the link, and listen as you go!

http://podcasts.odiogo.com/patagonia-plus-/podcasts-xml.php

Architectural Adventure

We're "on the road again" with Donna! Along the way to DC, she'll stop at the Farnsworth House in Illinois, designed by Mies van der Rohe, and the Kentuck Knob in Chalk Hill, and Fallingwater in Mill Run, both in Pennsylvania, and both designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  Wouldn't you just love to 'tag along'?  Well, if Donna gets a chance, maybe she'll "drop a line", or post a photo or two.  In the meanwhile, with just these few links, we can travel along on the internet.  Bon Voyage!!

Trinity Alps

"The 517,000-acre Trinity Alps Wilderness is the second largest designated wilderness in California and spans three national forest boundaries. Laced with trails, rivers, forests, and peaks, this is one wilderness where you can travel for weeks and never exhaust all the possible trails."  So says The Gorp Guide of The Away Network.

Trails.com provides a link to over 134 hiking trails in the Trinity Alps.  SummitPost.org has information on the individual mountains (pdf format, html link), and includes an overview map of the trailheads.  The USDA's Forest Service provides lots of info on the Shasta-Trinitiy National Forest, including the Road and Trail Report (updated weekly) on this page of Useful Links.  Also available online are detailed maps, of both the East and West, of Shasta-Trinity.

Bon Voyage, Donna and Ben! May the mountains be kind to you, the weather be right, and the vistas be good!!

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Welcome Home!

Donna and Ben have safely returned from their trek in Patagonia, and perhaps just in time. This morning Chile suffered an 8.8 earthquake, "one of the biggest temblors anywhere in more than a century", reports the Wall Street Journal. As a San Franciscan who experienced the 1989 Loma Prieta quake of 7.1, I can certainly appreciate the enormity of this event. 



Thanks to Donna and Ben's trip, I am now more keenly-tuned to news about Chile and Argentina, and have recently read about the beauty of Valparaiso, the oil dispute over the Islas Maldivas/Falkland Islands, the rains in Buenos Aires, and the January quake in Ushuaia. Travel, for me, is a real eye-opener, whether the traveler is me, or my friends. It personalizes the world, and expands one's mind, heart, and soul. It is the ultimate education, and enables us to become "citizens of the world". Thanks, Donna and Ben, for expanding our horizons! We look forward to seeing you soon...

¡Buen viaje!

On January 30, 2010, this blog began ("Welcome!"). It is created as a place for Donna and Ben to share photos and tales of their fabulous trip to Patagonia with Andes Adventures from February 5-21, 2010.

Today, the blog's structure is complete, and just barely in time, for their journey has already begun!! So, "¡Buen viaje!", Donna and Ben - and, thanks for taking us to Patagonia! Plus...!!!

How This Blog Works

You may wonder how to manage this blog - either as a writer or a reader, it may be counter-intuitive!  So, check out "How It Works".

Patagonia Hiking Adventure

Read the tour description of Patagonia Hiking Adventure, a 17-day trip led by Andes Adventures. This is the source material for the following day-by-day details of Donna and Ben's trip. Enjoy!

Feb 1 - MSP to LAX

On Monday, February 1 Donna and Ben fly from Minnesota to Los Angeles, for an overnight stay. On Tuesday, they head to Chile for a few days. Are they going to Santiago, the capital city? Well, I'm sure they'll soon fill us in on the details! And on Friday, February 5, they begin the tour to Patagonia!

Feb 2 - LAX to Chile

Tuesday: Donna and Ben fly today to Santiago, Chile. Buen Viage!!

Feb 3 - Santiago, Chile

Wednesday: Donna and Ben will be in Chile.

Feb 4 - Santiago, Chile

Thursday: Donna and Ben will be in Chile.

Feb 5 - Day 1 - Departure to Santiago

Friday: Most tour members will fly to Santiago today. Donna and Ben, however, will have arrived on Tuesday. Aren't they smart?!

Feb 6 - Day 2 - Santiago/Punta Arenas

Saturday: Early morning arrival in Santiago, where you will be met by your trip leader outside the customs area at the airport and continue together on your flight to Punta Arenas, located on the northern shore of the Strait of Magellan (S 53° 9.6', W 70° 54.5'). Overnight in Punta Arenas.

Flight LA 991 06 FEB Santiago/Punta Arenas 0820 1140

Overnight: Los Navegantes Hotel
Meals: D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.

Feb 7 - Day 3 - Punta Arenas/Torres del Paine

Sunday: After a nice overnight rest, we drive north through the Patagonian rolling plains. Weather permitting, we plan a detour to visit a colony of Magellanic penguins in Otway Sound. We stop for lunch at the quaint town of Puerto Natales, situated on the shores of Seno Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Afterwards we continue our drive to Torres del Paine National Park, on the way we will see large herds of sheep and baqueanos (cowboys). As we approach the park along Laguna Amarga, we will have our first views of the spectacular granite Towers of Paine. It is
likely we will also enjoy sightings of herds of guanacos, condors, flocks of pink flamingos, a variety of foxes, geese, ñandus (wild ostriches) and other wildlife. After entering the park, we get settled at refugio Torres.

Overnight: Refugio Torres
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Optional distances around the refugio in Torres del Paine.
Driving distance: About 240 miles plus additional 40 miles to the rookery.

Feb 8 - Day 4 - Torres del Paine - Hike to the Towers

Monday: After reviewing the day's route with our guide, we hike up the Ascencio Valley. We cross the river and continue uphill along a lenga and cypress trail. As we pass by campamento Chileno and the foot of Mt. Almirante Nieto, the trail follows a southern beech forest, finally reaching a moraine that takes us to the cirque below the famous Towers of Paine; Torre Sur (9,350’), Torre Central (9,186’) and Torre Norte (8,530’). Downhill back to the refugio.

Overnight: Refugio Torres
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 10.5 miles

Feb 9 - Day 5 - Torres del Paine

Tuesday: This morning we explore our surroundings and hike along the north shore of Lago Nordenskjold following the “W” circuit of the Park. Overnight at Refugio Cuernos.

Overnight: Refugio Cuernos
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 9.5 miles or about 5 hours.

Feb 10 - Day 6 - Torres del Paine - French Valley

Wednesday: We hike west of Lago Scottsberg and follow a trail along rolling foothills arriving at the Italian camp. You will have views of the enormous horns Cuernos del Paine (7,217’, 7,874’ and 8,530’) on the east and the glaciated Cerro Paine Grande (10,006’) on the west, as well as Lago Nordenskjold and Lago Pehoé. Overnight at Paine Grande Mountain Lodge – Refugio in Pehoé.

Elevation: About 270'.
Overnight: Paine Grande Lodge
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 8 miles or about 4 hours. An optional out-and-back hike up the French valley, offers beautiful vistas of the Cuernos del Paine.

Feb 11 - Day 7 - Torres del Paine - Grey Lake & Glacier

Thursday: We hike toward Lago Grey and Glacier Grey - a 4 mile wide glacier originating in the Continental Ice Cap. As we hike along Lago Grey, we will see turquoise-colored icebergs blown to the opposite side of the lake by the strong winds. We hike to Grey glacier and return late in the afternoon. The hiking group overnights at Paine Grande Mountain Lodge – Refugio in Pehoé.

Overnight: Paine Grande Lodge
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: About 12 miles or 6 to 7 hours.

Feb 12 - Day 8 - Torres del Paine/El Calafate

Friday: We take a catamaran across Lago Pehoé and arrive at Refugio Pudeto where our vehicle is waiting for us. (Depending on wind conditions we may hike to the park headquarters). As we drive to the park entrance, we enjoy the best views of Lago Pehoé, Lago Nordenskjold and Lago Sarmiento as well as the Horns and Towers. We cross the Argentine border and arrive in the village of El Calafate on the shore of Lago Argentino.

Overnight: Tehuel Plaza
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.

This is a long day of driving (about 5 1/2 hours), partly over dirt roads across the pampas. There is no other alternative way to travel, however there is always something to see along the way. Grazing sheep, wildlife and the unusual open range Patagonian steppes scenery.

Feb 13 - Day 9 - Parque los Glaciares - El Chaltén

Saturday: We drive along Lago Argentino to the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier – the world’s only glacier outside the polar region that is still advancing. Afterward we continue our drive north crossing Río (river) Santa Cruz and along Río La Leona to the shores of Lago Viedma till we reach the village of El Chaltén at 800 feet. As we approach El Chaltén we can see our first view of Mount Fitz Roy (11,171’) and Cerro Torre (10,177’). Overnight in El Chaltén.

Overnight: Hosteria Kalenshen.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Short hike in Perito Moreno.

Feb 14 - Day 10 - Parque Los Glaciares - Laguna De Los Tres

Sunday: We hike along a ridge below Cerro Leon (2,840'). We have fabulous views of Mount Fitz Roy, Poincenot and other granite peaks and glaciers. We follow the Chorillo del Salto stream and cross lenga forest until we reach the base camp of Río Blanco. You can continue on the optional hike to Laguna de los Tres, from where you will have outstanding views of Fitz Roy, the adjacent Poincenot neddle (9,849’), Rafael, Saint Exupery, other granite spires and the Piedras Blancas glacier. Visit Laguna Capri on your way down. Overnight in El Chaltén.

Overnight: Hosteria Kalenshen.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: About 8 miles or 6 hours, plus an optional out-and-back hike up to Laguna de los Tres.

Feb 15 - Day 11 - Parque Los Glaciares - Laguna Torre

Monday: This morning we hike down to Río Fitz Roy and follow the river up to Laguna Torre at 2,164’ at the base of Cerro Torre (you have the option to admire the view from the Fitz Roy valley). Cerro Torre is one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb because of its vertical walls topped by an overhanging mushroom of ice. With some luck it will be clear to see Cerro Torre; note that the vertical east granite face of Cerro Torre is over 7,000 feet (twice as high as Yosemite’s El Capitan). The hike continues through Laguna Madre e Hija and descends to El Chaltén. Overnight in our familiar lodge.

Overnight: Hosteria Kalenshen.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: About 9 miles or 6 hours, plus additional options if you want to make it longer.

Feb 16 - Day 12 - Parque Los Glaciares/El Calafate

Tuesday: LAN Airlines does not fly to Ushuaia on Tuesdays. We are staying one extra day in Patagonia.

This morning we drive back to El Calafate.
Optional activities in the afternoon.

Overnight: Tehuel Plaza
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.

Feb 17 - Day 13 - Flight to Ushuaia

Wednesday: Fly to Ushuaia the “Southernmost City in the World” on the island of Tierra del Fuego.

After lunch we board a boat or catamaran for a 3 hour cruise along the Beagle Channel. We cruise south to Isla de Los Pájaros (Birds' Island) and Isla de los Lobos (Sea Lion Island) where you can observe the Sea Lions and Imperial Cormorants. You will also see brown hooded Gulls, South American Terns, Black-browed Albatross, Giant Petrels, Great Skuas and other marine wildlife. After circling the Eclaireurs Light House, we return to Ushuaia sailing along the northern shore of the channel. Overnight in Ushuaia.

Flight LA4440 17 FEB El Calafate/Ushuaia 0900 1017
Flight: About an hour.

Overnight: Hotel Tierra del Fuego.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.
Driving time: About 3 1/2 hours.

Feb 18 - Day 14 - Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego

Thursday: After breakfast we drive to Tierra del Fuego National Park west of Ushuaia. We start our hike at the Pampa Alta Trail. Our guide will lead us through lovely sub-Antarctic forests of beech, ñire, lenga, coihue and an abundance of moss and ferns. After reaching the top (about 1,000’) we enjoy a panoramic view of the Beagle Channel, Isla Redonda and Ensenada Bay. We descend and connect with Sendero de La Costa (Coastal Trail) and continue along the rocky shores of the bay finishing at Roca Lake. After lunch we visit Bahia Lapataia.

The park offers great opportunities for bird-watching. Some of the species that you will see are the Black-browed Albatross, Giant Petrels, Steamer Ducks, Magellanic Woodpecker, Thorntailed Rayadito, Chimango Caracaras, Black-Chested Buzzard Eagles and others.

Overnight in Ushuaia: Hotel Tierra del Fuego.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 8 miles with options for more or less.
Driving distance: 25 miles.

Feb 19 - Day 15 - Ushuaia/Buenos Aires

Friday: Morning flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital. We arrive at Aeroparque Jorge Newberry Airport and transfer to our centrally located hotel, a few blocks from the city’s landmark, the Obelisco.

Flight LA4440 LA4438 19 FEB Ushuaia/Aeroparque (Buenos Aires) 0930 1427
Flight time: About 3 hours 20 minutes.

Overnight in Buenos Aires: Park Central Unique.
Meals: B, L, D*. Optional tango show and dinner.
*A popular tango show and dinner is offered at a special discounted price, otherwise dinner is on your own and not included.

Today's hike: Walking tour in the city of Buenos Aires.

Feb 20 - Day 16 - Buenos Aires

Saturday: We start our walking city tour of Buenos Aires from the hotel. This tour shows you the city’s highlights, looking through its history and culture, the historic development, the immigration process, the architectural heritage, Peronismo era and other features of the Argentinean society. You’ll learn about cultural topics like tango music and soccer.

Starting from Plaza de Mayo we will enjoy a tour of the most remarkable highlights of this unique metropolis. Our itinerary will focus on the main places of interest of the southern and northern region of Buenos Aires: major plazas, colonial churches, old-time cafes, bohemian artist's quarter, colorfully painted metal houses, grand avenues, palatial mansions and spacious parks. We arrive in the neighborhood of San Telmo and complete our tour by bus, visiting the
neighborhoods of La Boca, Puerto Madero, Palermo and Recoleta.

After a late lunch, time on your own for shopping and sightseeing in Buenos Aires.

Transfer to the Ezeiza International Airport for our evening flight home.

Meals: B, L
Today's hike: Walking tour in the city of Buenos Aires.

Feb 21 - Day 17 - Arrival Home

Sunday: Arrival Home

Welcome!

Welcome to Patagonia! Plus...  This is a blog created for Donna and Ben so they can share photos and tales of their fabulous trip to Patagonia.  Traveling with Andes Adventures from February 5-21, 2010, they are about to have the adventure of a lifetime.  Not many of us will ever go to Patagonia, but we can travel along with D&B as they pioneer the way.  Here they can share their discoveries as they travel, or describe them after their return.  Either way, they will have a place to savor their adventure in the future, for this space is set aside for their "recuerdos de un viaje fabulóso".  Enjoy!

How It Works

You may wonder how to manage this blog - either as a writer or a reader, it may be counter-intuitive!  So, I'll give a few hints.

• Most blogs are written counter-chronologically (is there such a word?), with the most recent posting at the top.  For a travel blog, this works if you write every day, but not all of us can do that!  Also, when reading the blog, it makes it harder to get a good sense of what happens when, and, as we know, the order of things is important!  Furthermore, when printing the postings, first things should come first!  SO - this blog is a little bit different: a description of the days-of-travel will be posted in chronological order.
• I am setting up this blog for Donna and Ben, so I want to make it easy for them to use!  This blog presents the description of each day of travel given on the tour coumpany's website.  That will make it easy for Donna and/or Ben to make "comments" to each day's posting - the brochure's blurb will remind them of what "should" have happened, and entice them to respond with what actually DID happen!  Also, it will give the rest of us an idea of "Where in the World are D and B?!!  If nothing else, it will allow us to travel along with them, and to "virtually" follow their footsteps.
• I will send D&B an email that "invites" them to "join" this blog.  To do so, they will need to create a Google account.  Using any email address, simply create a user name ("Donna" and "Ben" come to mind), and choose a password (write it down and/or just remember it!).  I think that's all there is to it, but I could be wrong.  If so, just email Martha, or call my cell.  Blogger has lots of helpful tools, as well as a Getting Started Guide, and YouTube has several videos that may help.  As a "member" of the blog, you can create individual postings, and add photos to the blog. You can even post to the blog simply by sending an email!
• OR, if joining the blog seems too challenging for now - just post comments to each day's description!  Either as you travel, or when you return, this blog is for YOU!  Use it, or not, as you wish.   
• These "instructions" are detailed online so that anyone who understands this process can help Donna and Ben get up to speed with it.  As a precaution, this blog will NOT be listed publicly unless Donna and Ben wish it to be so.  That means, the only way others will see it is to send them a link.

For now, I will administer this blog, and am available to help in any way.  This is my gift to Donna and Ben, and with it comes a big wish that you have a "Buen Viaje" to Patagonia!