15/03/2006
JUNIN DE LAS ANDES
Junin de las andes the self acclaimed trout capital of Argentina. It was about 7 hours on bus from Neuquen. We arrived at 6am and went straight to campsite Camping Isla. The campsite was South West on the centre of Junin and was virtually its on little island as the it was surrounded by the river Rio Chimehuin.
We pitched the tent only metres away from the edge of the river. The views and the sound of the running river was amazing. On the way to the campiste we passed Junins church, Iglesia Nuestra Senora de las Nieves. The church was built by the Mapuche, The indegious people. It was an amazing church with white walls and brilliant stain glass windows.
No South American town is complete without a central square. Junin's Plaze General San Martin was up with pne of the best ive seen so far. It wa filled with Various ppines and the fab monkey puzzle tree. It was a great place to sit and relax. I spent a couple of hours there each evening catching up with my journel.
The First evening we ate at Ruc Hueney. a local restuarent just off the square. Had the most fantastic steak for about 3 pounds. It was a great meal even tho the waiter was a bit of a joker.
Then next day we headed into San Martin which only took an hour on a mini bus. San Martin, apparently Argentinas favourite holiday destination, is very much like Junin with the wooden fronted shops and reestuarants, but is just very much larger. I t was a horrible day in When we arrived and i was the only one wearing shorts, i di d get some funny looks, Oh well. T he main reason we headed to San Martin was to purchase a stove and some cooking equipment. After a few hours of hunting we came back with everything ticked off our list.
Dinner on the stove went well and two litres of vino tinto later we were well into the camping experience. There was quite a chill so we had a roaring fire going costantly. With the fire roaring we found a few new camera mdes and took advantage of the slow shutter speed and took some whacky pics of the fire.(See pics)
18/03/2006
Some how after getting to bed in the early hours woke at 9, and after a couple cups of tea and a big bowl of porridge and sugar, was ready for the days excursions. Today we had decided we were going to head to National Parque Lanin. As we travelled north to the Parque we went pass the proud site of the world only remaining mule regiment, who were gentle grazing under a tree by the side of the river.
NATIONAL PARQUE LANIN
Lanin is Argetnina's third largest park. It contains 35 lakes, dense alpine forests, the extinct volcano Lanin and an abundance of wildlife. Arrived late afternnon and pitched the tent at Rapuiche, a campsite run by a indegious mapuche tribe.. Again we were able to have the tent only a few metres away from the water, this time just off the shore of Lago (Lake) Huechulafquen. Not only were we just of the shore we also could see Volcano Lanin in the distance.
19/03/2006
Today hiked up to a waterfall. The waterfall was great as you were able to walk right behind it. The hike took about seven hours ther and back, including a few detours to the port and a church. Once we visited the port we thought it would be a great idea and quicker to follow the shore of the lake round to our campsite. It turned out it was niether. The highlights being Tom stubbling into a couple of streams as we crossed them.
20/03/2006
Hiked upto to the base camp of Volcano Lanin. The base camp is 1600m above sea level with the peak of the volcano at 3776m. There is a two day hike which goes to the top but unfortunatly was slightly out of my price range. However the hike to the base camp turned out to be more adventurous than we had planned.
We set out at 10.30 and reported into the Guard a Parque, who advise d us that it was four hours up and 3 hours down. The first hour went with out a hitch, hiking along and over streams and through the forests of trees. We caught up with three girls from Rosario and a french guy, who we had meet in Lihuel Calel. Two hours whilst talking about food again - seems to be one of the things we talk about alot - we lost track of the red markers that shows the trail, we decided not to head back but to follow the stram and hope we could pick up the trail. The streeam narrowed off and we had no choice but to climb up the bank, hoping the trail would be just ahead. it was a big climb just about 60 degrees but after 20 mins there was no trail just a huge rock wall. We scaled round the rock wall, when the ground beneath us stareted to crumble and tumble down the mountain we had no choise but to climb upwards. The climb was only about 10m but was near on vertical. Neither of us had any climbing experience but it is amazing or suprising how lon gyou can hold on to your whole body weight with just two fingers.....
We made it to the top of the rock at this point we look back and there was about an 100m drop...
HEARTS POUNDING, BLOOD PUMPING
Once over the rock we had to clamber up another bank through thick forests of trees and shrubs. Hour after the rock face we stopped...
HEARTS POUNDING, BLOOD PUMPING
It wasnt quite over yet the next test was to practically crawl through the shrubs and undergrowth. Legs and arms were scratched. We heard voices, and through the trees we could see the Girls from Rosario. Two hours later after start or accent of the mountain we reached the base camp.
It only took 1hr 40 to descend the trail.
21/03/2006
Today after are advetures of yesterday we headed back to Junin. We had to wait for the bus outside the campsite and unlike Lihuel Calel the bus stopped. we Got back in Junin late Evening, went back to Campsite Isla and then went back to restuarant Ruca Hueney. We had decided after our heroics and having pasta and rica for three days we would treat oursleves to some freshl caught trout. At the restuarent had a gorgeous trout, it was fantastic. To top it off i had chocolate brownies and ice cream. The whole meal including 3 beers was just over 5 pound each. Next stop Bariloche....
22/03/2006
BARILOCHE
We were hoping to go a special trip to Bariloche via the seven Lagos, unfortunitly it was full so we just had to get a bus straight there.
Bariloche is sandwiched between Lago Nahuel Huapi to the north the arid Sleppe to the east and the Andean peaks to the west. Bariloche is regarded as Patagonias party town it didnt disappoint.
Arrived in Bariloche in the early evening about 8 i think and checked in an the Tango Inn Hostel, which was a short walk from the Terminal de Omnibus.
The Hostel were doing an all you can eat BBQ for 15 pesos. It was fantastic, whilst eating two local blokes performed some amazing songs on there accoustic guitars. There were only a dozen people at the hostel but the atmosphere was wicked. We got chatting two a couple of ozzy people and spent the rest of the night and into the early hours drinking and talking.
23/03/2006
Woke at nine with a slight headache. Had the free breakfast which was yet again burnt toast and butter. The only good thing was unlimited cups of tea. |
Locations Visited: Junin de los Andes, San Martin de los Andes, Bariloche
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