I got an email a few days ago. The subject read “Truer words have never been spoken…” and in the body of the email was the copied and pasted introductory sentence of my last post, “I have been slacking a little bit with updating my blog as of late”. Thanks Uncle John, but I think that was putting it nicely. TWO MONTHS. Sheesh. My bad!
As you all can imagine, a lot has happened since my last update. No way I am going to cover it all, but some highlights:
Nick and Jenna were welcomed to Patagonia with one of the best sunsets I have ever seen. From the airport we drove towards the silhouetted mountains that surround Coyhaique with a sky full of reds, oranges, yellows and pinks. The rest of the trip was also a success. We were three crazy gringos roadtripping though Patagonia… in the middle of winter. Sleeping on the side of Ruta 40, hiking around Fitz Roy in whiteout conditions, snowball fights next to glacier Perito Moreno, standing at the end of the continent (literally), skinny dipping in Lago General Carrera, car surfing along the Carretera Austral, and all while drinking Mate, or as Nick calls it, diesel. Needless to say, it was awesome.
Rounding out my winter visitors, were my Dad and Brother. My Dad arrived a week before Eric, and as I was waiting in the baggage area of the airport to pick him up I was nearly in tears and shaking with excitement. It was SO NICE to have family here. The day after he arrived, we competed as “Team USA” in the Desafio Aysen (Aysen Challenge), a two-day adventure race comprised of biking, snowshoeing, kayaking, and running. While it definitely kicked my ass, it was a ton of fun. Fortunately for the race in terms of publicity, and unfortunately for me and my imperfect Spanish, dislike of cameras, and regrettable need to be wearing 800 layers and a bike helmet, we (well, only me since Dad doesn’t speak Spanish) were interviewed a bunch for programs which are now being shown not only on Chilean cable TV, but national TV as well. Oh jeeze.
After the race and before Eric arrived, Dad and I traveled up north to Queulat National Park and the Puyuhuapi hot springs. I had been there two times previous, but this time we had NO RAIN, which is very unusual for this part of the region. It was like a whole new place. Mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes everywhere you looked. Didn’t know they were there before! When Eric got here, we headed south to my favorite place in the world, the Baker river :) We also went to Valle Chacabuco, Lago General Carrera, Capilas de Marmol, and Eric drank his “first” beer on Glacier Exploradores. Heck of a place to turn 21! Sadly the visit had to end… My family rocks!
The day after Eric left, I left for a backcountry skiing and winter mountaineering course with the guide school. We loaded my car with ice axes, crampons, shovels, harnesses, helmets, skis, skins, poles, and more. We headed to Portezuelo Ibanez in Cerro Castillo. I was in charge of the skiing classes and trips. I was a bit anxious since I am no pro-skier and I had to explain everything in Spanish to people who have never been on skis before. But in the end, it was INCREDIBLE. In no time we were all daring each other to skin up higher, go faster, hooting and hollering, and laughing as inevitably every single one of us got a face full of fresh powder from an epic wipe out. Gringa or Chilean, expert or newbie, girl or guy, those distinctions don’t matter when everyone is there to learn and to enjoy the incredible outdoor playground that is Patagonia. Good times. No. Great times. Seeing the smiles on the guys faces as they hit their first successful run is why I love doing this.
I am now in Coyahaique, and don’t have plans to go anywhere until October. It’s a weird feeling, to be in once place for more than a week, but it’s a welcome one. I am busy planning for the next guide school trip (a float trip down the Rio Palena from the Argentine boarder to the sea), working on old and new projects with CIEP, and enjoying the (slow) start to spring here.
My roommate Pancho and I have started going to a spinning class. I was skeptical since I am not a huge fan of bikes, but I am hooked. Who wouldn’t love a peppy Chilean guy screaming “sigue sigue sigue” and “vamos” over a soundtrack of old Jock Jams CDs and remixes of pop songs from 5 years ago. The smile plastered to his face makes me smile even tough I am drenched in sweat. Also, for some reason I have been cooking and baking up a storm... maybe to replace all the energy I’m using in spinning? The other day I decided I couldn’t wait another day to have a bagel. Chileans don’t know what bagels are, so I set off on a mission to make them myself. Problem being I didn’t know how to, nor do I have a real oven. But I have to say round one of flaxseed bagels in the toaster over came out pretty yummy!
I have been catching up with friends in the States, making an Epic List ;), and have even started to think about what the heck I am going to do when I get home… that is, besides figuring out how to get back here to Aysen!
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