Sunday, 18 January 2015

Queulat National Park

This is a wonderful national park along the Carretera Austral in Chilean Patagonia. I've already posted an image of the hanging glacier (spectacular!)

Along another trail, the Bosque Encantando (Enchanted Forest), the moss diversity (and that of other bryophytes) was nothing short of amazing.
along the trail in the Bosque Encantado
admiring bryophyte diversity
another hanging glacier photo
the river below
my traveling buddy

Saturday, 17 January 2015

Carretera Austral and Queulat National Park

I've gotten totally out of sequence (travel-wise) with my postings, but here are some wonderful images that evoke the experience of Chilean (Northern) Patagonia along the Carretera Austral.

Hanging Glacier in Quelat National Park
The hanging glacier is a stand-out hike (in Quelat National Park).  The fiord stretching from Puyahuaipi and beyond is spectacular, too.

Near the Posada Quelat

A finch accustomed to handouts

boat in Puyahuapi harbor

Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Monday, 12 January 2015

Chilean Patagonia and the Carretera Austral

Jumping around in our travels again, here are some images from a hike in Chilean Patagonia (off the Carretera Austral, a historically gravel road now being regraded and paved through much of its length.)

The Chilean side of Patagonia is much wetter than the Argentinian side, so the vegetation is a LOT more lush.


Sunday, 11 January 2015

Ruta 40 (Argentina)

Jumping ahead in our travels, here's an image on the Argentinian side, from our journey back north on Ruta 40, a legendary north-south route, stretching from far north to south in Argentina.

Ruta 40
It's largely paved now, but we bumped along some pretty remote graveled roads from the Chilean border crossing (without much other traffic) to finally get to Route 40.  Somewhat unnerving, actually!

Friday, 9 January 2015

Beyond Bariloche

Returning from the Ruta de Siete Lagos, we returned through Bariloche, and continued to head south.

The next town is El Bolson, a remarkably pleasant town with a vibrant market.

We almost missed it, in spite of guide book directions. The main highway skirts the main center of town, and evokes Patagonia of old, speckled with a few bakeries, meat shops, fruterias, and basically not looking very promising.

But we persevered, and found great views, and an interesting and eclectic market scene. It reminded us our our diverse mountain town in Western North Carolina - full of artists, creative folks, "old" hippies, as well as young South American ones.

Rio Azul from the mirador above El Bolson

Pother, I'm on the iPad and it's taking forever to sort back though the photos...