The Return Journey, A Patagonian Farewell
The journey home was a breeze, a stark, welcome contrast to the stress and queues of the outward leg. This was the easy part, a long exhale after over a month of wonders.
The Hidden Lake, To Share or Not to Share?
Water of a piercing blue, fringed by beaches of sand the colour of the Sahara. We were, of course, immediately captivated. A plan was formed.
The Condor's Call, A Test of Patience in Patagonia (Part 2)
The condors taught us that the most magnificent views often lie just beyond the point where you think you can wait no longer
Feathered Findings November 27th
A day not finding the Andean Condor
The Day the Condor Didn't Show
A day waiting for the appearance of the Andean Condor
A Hidden Loop – Discovering the Eastern Side of the Río de las Vueltas Valley
A short walk from the edge of El Chaltén, a metal bridge offers a gateway to the quieter, eastern side of the Río de las Vueltas valley. Our destination was vague, but the promise of exploration led us down a dirt track towards the prominent "Eco" Camp, its cluster of large orange domes promising luxury […]
Feathered Findings November 19th, 20th & 21st
Some of my favourite finds, and log, from a 3 day camping trip. Magellanic Woodpecker Crested Caracara Ashy-headed Goose Patagonian Sierra Finch Austral Negrito White-browed Ground Tyrant Dark-faced Ground Tyrant Austral Parakeet Buff-winged Cinclodes The trip was a flood of memories. We camped at Piedra del Fraile, the same spot that served as our first […]
Down Memory Lane to the Refugio del Fraile
A return to a classic Patagonian refuge reveals how the landscape, and the experience of trekking through it, has transformed over nearly two decades. The Rio Electrico Valley felt familiar, but the sound was different. The crunch of our boots on a wide, manicured trail had replaced the rustle and tear of pushing through spiky […]
Canuto de Paredón, El Chalténs Best-Kept Secret
The weather has finally cleared. After being cooped up by a spell of bad weather, we needed a hike to shake off the rust. The perfect solution? A half-day adventure in the Cerro Paredón hills, a range that's quickly becoming my favorite escape from the well-trodden paths of El Chaltén. What makes it so special? […]
Expedition to the Bridge – A Tale of Patagonian "Toughness"
We fancied ourselves tough. I mean, genuinely hardy. Our resumes boasted five expeditions across the great Southern Patagonian Ice Cap, a place where the wind is less a weather phenomenon and more a personality trait. So, surely, a casual stroll down to the river in El Chaltén would be a walk in the park. What […]