Bariloche: Rafting, Paraglding and Walking

Well, we´ve continued in our extreme streak, with adventures of rafting, paragliding and a very long walk up a mountain.


This video (if it works) shows Landing her tandem paraglide flight. It´s better with sound as you can hear her shreiking in anticipation!! If it doesn´t work click here

Paragliding is amazing - so crazy to run of the edge of a mountain and find yourself suspended and flying through the air. Suffice to say we were both a bit nervous standing on the ´runway´with our hats and jump suits waiting to launch. You have to wait for the guy to inflate the ´wing´, and then brace against the pull as the wind grabs it. Then he hooks on and you have to run like a lunatic as though you wish to throw yourself off the edge. All of a sudden you´re running like the Wylee Coyote with your feet in the air and the mountain floor dissapearing below. Then you fly...

From Paragliding

Two days before paragliding we went rafting down the river Guiterez to the Chilean border. This was also fantastic fun, though I have to say that Paragliding tops it on the extremomiter. The day trip included a massive lunch of barbequed lamb, sausages and wine, so after all the excercise and exhileration we´re were all pissed after about two glasses!

From Bariloche

As you can see, Leah was loving it! The coolest thing was that we got Leah into Chile without a visa, albeit for only a moment! Shhh, dont tell no one.

From Bariloche

The day before yesterday I was making dinner when my good friend Joanna walked into the Hostel kitchen...how bonkers is that? She is over staying with her sister, Justine, who lives in Uruguay. We decided to join forces for a walk up the mountains which we did yesterday.

From Frey Mountain...

It was a beautful clear and still day, but not too hot so it was perfect for the walk. We took the 9.15 bus that left us at the bottom of a ski lift, which carries people up the mountian to either just enjoy the view or hurtle down on mountain bikes. We, however, left this behind to find the path that leads up to a mountain refuge called Frey. At first the path seemed to just contour around the side of the mountian, which had beautiful views of the lake below, but I really wanted to get up into the hills. Finally we came round a bend and the gradient steepened as we followed a river gorge up and up through wonderful lush green woodland. Up up and up some more we went until finally we the greenery began to thin and we could see the rocky mountain peaks all around. At about 2 in the afternoon we arrived at the Refuge and were greeted by a number of Brasilian climbers who´d been up there for 40 days. They were on their way down and had enormous rucksaks, laden with climbing gear and camping equipment.

From Frey Mountain...

After a lunch of chorizo, brie and olives we decided that instead of wlaking down the path we had come up, we´d try to walk over the top of the mountain pass and go down by the ski-lift. After talking with a few of the poeple up there it seemed as though the walk wouldn´t be too difficult, but would probably take 3 to 4 hours....so off we set. The refuge is nestled in at the base of two peaks with a large lake at it´s rear. This we had to circumnavigate before climbing up a steep and rocky slope to exit the vally. At the top of this was another lake and another steep climb to get to the top of the pass, which revealed wonderful views of the the mountains stretching off into the distance.

From Frey Mountain...

It felt like we had reached the hardest point after all that climbing, but the traverse to reach the ski lifts was steep and difficult, with loose rocks covered in gravel. This made it slow and tiring and as the day wore on and our legs and bodies began to tire it seemed as though the trail would never end.

From Frey Mountain...

Finally however we crested a slope to see the vast lake and Bariloche miles below. Unfortunately the lifts had closed for the day, but thankfully Johanna had managed to go ahead and secure us a lift with some workers who were making there way home for the day. This meant we had to ride on the back of a truck all the way down the bumpy mountain paths, but although it was cold and uncomfortable, it was much better than the hours of walking that awaited us if we´d not got the lift. When we got to the bottom the bus seemed to be waiting to greet our tired legs, and the relief and happyness at being inside the warm shuddering vehicle was wonderful.

From Frey Mountain...

Back in Bariloche we bought some food and went to the Hostel for much needed showers. Once refreshed the four of us (Johanna, Justine, Leah and I) met in the kitched and cooked a wonderful meal of grilled steak, mashed potato, corn on the cob and an onion and chilli gravy. Yum yum.

Today Leah and I are chilling and resting our tired thighs, while Joanna and her sister have gone off to investigate El Bolson for a couple of days. We may hook up with them this weekend for some more adventures though....