Wandering Around the World

We´re now back in San Martin de los Andes (SMA) after arriving back from another brilliant 3 day hike. The weather was more than perfect, no biblical storms or snow to contend with this time, plus the route a little easier.

On the first day we took the rather expensive tourist boat trip acoss the Lago Lacar to Quila Quina, a tiny lake side village/resort. Having bought a map of Park Lanin, which included our route, we set off in search of the trailhead. All I can say is that navigating with a 1:200,000 scale map on a trail with no markings isn´t the easiest thing in the world. Thanks to the help from an Argentine couple we found the trail, an unmarked cart track starting next to a sign in Spainish saying something along the lines of "Private property do not enter" Another 4 hours and a few strip to shorts and sandles river crossings we made it to the hidden lake. It was more than worth the effort. We found the wild campsite, dumped our packs and headed down the the waters edge. We were truly blinded by the sun as the waters surface turned into a huge golden mirror. As the sun sunk behind the mountains in the distance the temperature plummeted making soup and pasta followed by hot chocolate the tastiest meal in the wolrd.

Waking up to freezing conditions when you´re wrapped up in a cozy sleeping bag is never nice but we had a long day ahead so only had 1/2hr lie-in. Come on, we deserved it. A huge bowl of yummy porridge and some chocolate later and we were off before any one else had even appeared from their tents. The mornings´ trail led us through the tallest bamboo and up and over to the next valley. With plastic ticker tape sporatdiclly placed along the trail we manged fine up until lunch which we had in a little clearing. Not too sure if it was the sugar rush from lunch but we lost the the trail and had to struggle through bracken, bamboo, brambles down hill. We managed to find the trail once more and crossed paths with a bunch of Argentine lads walking the other way. They said the next camp was 5hrs off but had brilliant lakeside beach access! From this point onwards the going was easier and followed pretty close to the lake edge. The lads description was spot on as we approached the camping area the lake`s edge was little more than 10 metres away; brilliant for skimming stones (only managed 13 bounces)

Our previous relaxing night definitely didn`t make our 5am start any easier. We had to make the 11.30 bus to nearby Hua Hum, only 9km away but it was either that or wait until the 8pm bus. The walk to Hua Hum was pretty easy and just followed along a 4x4 track `til it met the main(?) dust road. We asked at the Argentinian border control about the bus and they said we could wait anywhere and it`d pick us up. After a bit of a wait by the side of the road a cloud appeared in the distance. We were both glad to find the cloud was our bus and jumped on board whilst trying not to inhale too much dust. We were soon back in SMA were the cosy ensuite was waiting for us along with the local and much needed laundrette.