We arrive in Buenos Aires and visit a park full of cats.
We added our own carbonation to lemonade with that contraption.: The chocolate caliente came in a nice copper container.
New Years Eve: Celebrated in Buenos Aires by throwing paper out of office windows on the last work day of the year!
Fruit market: We bought fruit here that was as delicious as it was beautifully arranged. A nearby vendor thought Sheldon should wear his apron for the photo!
Kjirsten taught us how to peel mangoes with our teeth to eat them without a knife.
New Year's Eve dinner at La Baita, a fantastic Italian Restaurant.: We were there 4 hours and had 5 courses that included 16 selections. Kjirsten thought we would choose one/course but our plate came with all of them every time! We were also offered 4 kinds of wine. By the time we left well after midnight we were so full we could hardly walk.
Ice Cream: This was a special treat at Kjirsten's favorite ice cream place because we each had our own cone! Usually we all shared the smallest possible cone. That's how you justify ice cream every day.
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Sheldon had jet lag
and tried to sleep on benches everytime we stopped,
even in the cemetary!
This restaurant was next to our hotel.: Sheldon was sure we should eat there but Kjirsten held firm to going to places recommended in her trusted guidebook, even if it meant walking a few miles for a meal!
Posing with the gorgeous lupine.
We will begin by riding the gondola & chairlift to the top.
Enjoying the view before the hike begins.
We felt like we were on top of the world....
because we were!
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Sheldon is happy to be hiking.
The trail was getting rocky.
Lunch break with a view.
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Cathedral mountain basin not far from Baraloche.
Nearing the end of the day and end of the hike.
Refugio at end of the lake.: This refugio seems to be constructed from cut rock, likely from this area, not very pretty but beats carrying a tent.
Morning light back towards the pass, we will be climbing over the ridge going up the far right c
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Water break.: This water should be safe.
Alpine Lake: The pass is behind the lake and up to the left.
Crossing the snow.
We climbed this rock for Tyler.: This rock looked climbable so we did it. We knew our mother's wouldn't approve but Kjirsten gave us permission, even encouragement!
Nice view.: The mountain in the center far horizen is Mt Tronador. That will be our next 5 days of hiking, but first about 12 miles back to the road.
Mountain Lake: Kind of like Dickinson
Lunch preparation: fresh tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, cheese & breadsticks.
Down is easier than up.
Another stream to cross.
Bushwacking.: The map indicates the trail is just ahead, hopefully this shortcut works. This is slow going with a pack.
One more stream to cross.
Time to just go for it.
I think my feet are cleaner now.
Taking the high road.
Oops!
Mt. Tronador Hike # 1: We hiked up to a refugio on the R shoulder of Tronador, about 6 miles, the hut and peak are in the clouds, (snow as we will find out later)
Snow, at least the trail is easy at this point.: It started snowing just below the treeline, we have about 2 hrs to go, about 1200 more feet to climb.
Climbing the snowpack.: Climbing the snowpack was actually easier than trying not to slip and break on ankle on slippery rocks.
On our way down 2 days later.: We spent 2 nights at the hut, no picture, it was ugly. We were hoping for a break in the weather so we could go higher but it didn't happen. It snowed the whole time we were there.
It appears the weather is lifting.: Should we go back up?
