We have a white house, they have The Pink House.
It is my last day in Argentina. Tonight I fly home, and back to regular life.
August 18th
Day trip to elevated town of Cachi. One block wide, so basically just a nice shady plaza and a large old cemetery on the outskirts. Nice ride switch backing above one of the regions Calchaquíe valleys and through a high plateau.
Tomorrow one last overnight bus and a quick flight to Buenos Aires.
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August 17th - 19th
One last town to see in the far north. Almost the same latitude as Chilean Atacama desert and not that far. I feel as though I have taken the long way around since I could have easily come here back in July. City of Salta, with many markets and one grand plaza.
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August 16th
More pictures... Open gutters on every street. They make for potential hazards during the walk home after a night out.
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August 12th - 16th
The many tree lined streets of Mendoza. Great small city, just east of the Andes.
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August 5th - 11th
Well this is certainly the best area in South America. Long steeps, best snow, endless backcountry opportunities. Fully isolated resort surrounded by the mountains. Still everything moves slow, long nights for everyone has the lifts open in stages throughout the morning. Truly on Argentinean time.
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August 6th
Big mountain, mucha nieve. At least 250cm of fresh. Still we wait for top to be cleared...
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August 1st
Small batch wine maker CarinaE just outside of Mendoza, which is Argentina's wine capital. Mostly malbecs all fed off the snow melt from the Andes.
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July 31st
After 3 days straight of heavy rains in town, now heading north to Mendoza. 19 hours via bus. Will wait out a big storm and then backtrack to Las Leñas ski resort.
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July 27-30th
Many diversions in Bariloche. You certainly do not find food or nightlife like this in Chile. Eat until 1am, then stay out until 5-7am every night.
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July 27th
The ski resort overlooking the lake town. Conditions are only ok, and the terrain hardly compares to Chillan.
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July 25th
Bariloche Argentina on Lago Nahuel Huapi. A proper ski town with year round activities. Probably the biggest in South America, though not known to be best in skiing.
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July 24th
Through the Puyehue National Park. One of the few passes in southern Chile lake district into Argentina Patagonia.
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July 23rd
Leaving the valley below the Thermas. Headed south and then east through one of the passes to Argentina.
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July 20-22nd
I finally made it to the slopes. It's the biggest area in southern Chile, though there has not been new snow for a week. Packed and groomed, and off trail has soft and solid spots. The most accessible off-piste is a long rolling group of gullies and natural pipes, with occasional short steeps.
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July 17th.
I just left San pedro in the midst of a 3 or 4 days of heavy winds. Should have left yesterday. Though now riding in style on the salon cama bus overnight to Santiago.
Pictures of the dust storm leaving the Atacama, and now the shoreline two hours north of the capital.
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July 13th.
5916 meters after 1500m rise. Not very technical, though lots of loose rock. This was our guide Marcelo's 348th trip to the top. Here is Andrew, Marcelo, myself and Chris.
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July 13th.
Started very early after a nutritious 5 minute breakfast of a tortilla and a cliff bar. Marcelo keeps us at steady slow pace through the dark with the occasional pause. The day before I was easily winded at a normal hiking pace.
The sun started to come up over Argentina about 2 hours into the ascent. Both lakes are finally visible together. The top is reached after about 5-5.5 hours.
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July 12th
A last shot from the base, and salt on the green lake. Tommorow up and out before dawn.
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July 12th
At the base of volcan not far from laguna verde (4400 m). Said to be green from the Incas tossing copper away as the were fleeing the conquistadors. Inca ruins right here as well. Three of us will tent here, but our guide Marcadio "macarena" only sleeps outside (30° F).
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