Returning home after six months on the road, walking almost every day in the mountains, was something I needed. The distance made me miss my family and I also wanted to spend my 30th birthday together. I enjoyed our reunion, where we caught up with everyone until it was time to start a new walk. That stop of more than a month at home did me a lot of good on an emotional level, but on a physical level not so much because I had some very sedentary days. This was a habit that I had to put aside little by little if I wanted to take myself to walk around all those beautiful places .

Our 21-day trip in the motorhome had scheduled several treks in the different cities where we would stop. The most difficult and awaited by all was the one we would do in the city of Bariloche, walking 15 km up the mountain through the snow until we reached the Frey Refuge. That is a hike that I had done in the summer without problems, but at that time my hiking pace in the mountains was very good. After the month still at home I felt very heavy, so I had to do small progressive hikes until I regained my good condition .

While we were in the city of Villa La Angostura in Neuquén, one of the scheduled hikes was to the Arrayanes Forest. This is a 12 km trail on a terrain that has some inclines, but almost 75% of the trail is flat. You can get to the forest by boat, or some people combine going by boat and coming back by trekking or vice versa, but our plan was to walk there and back. This long hike was just what I needed to test my endurance again .

We started our hike around 9 AM, because we knew it would take us about three hours to get to the forest. That morning it looked like good weather was not going to be with us because it was freezing and foggy, but we went anyway because that's winter. I had done this hike coming back from the forest a year ago in the fall, but it was great to see the trail again adorned with some snow ❤️.

I must say that at the beginning it took me a while to get back into the rhythm, especially on the long climbs. I felt a bit out of breath, and at that point I regretted everything I ate and drank while I was back home, I was laughing inside. It was also quite an adventure to do a long hike in winter because I overdressed and couldn't maintain a constant body temperature without sweating or freezing. But despite all those inconveniences, I arrived safe and sound to the Bosque de Arrayanes .

Why is this place so interesting for tourists? Well, because it is the forest that contains the largest number of Arrayanes trees in the region. This part of the park is a walk through wooden paths where you can stroll among the cold orange trees. This area also has a small grocery store and restrooms, enough to spend the day. In my visit in 2023 I already wrote in detail about this place, so I invite you to read this post. This time I didn't take many pictures of the forest, I just used my time to sit for a while to catch my breath and eat my humble lunch .

My final conclusion on this whole situation is that fitness takes months, but can be lost in just a few weeks of inactivity. Luckily, as we had also planned the hike back that day, I had time to move my legs a bit and warm up, getting ready for the day we would go up to the refuge in Bariloche. I enjoyed going to the forest again, it's always a picturesque place to visit, and if I can get the benefit of physical activity along the way, all the better ❣️.

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The Summit Stage (Day 2) of the Cerro El Pabellón (3,181m) expedition, starting from the Río El Tala basin in Catamarca, is a highly demanding trekking route due to its steep slopes and elevation gain.

️ Route and Key Locations

The step-by-step itinerary for the summit push includes the following key milestones:

• Starting Point: "El Durazno" Camp (located at approximately 2,020 meters above sea level).
• West Bypass: The trail begins along the ridge base and veers slightly left (West) to gain altitude gradually, avoiding the steepest part of the main ridge.
• Main Ridge Line: The path returns to the main ridge crest. The final stretch of this section features an extremely steep and challenging incline.
• High Plateau: Once past the ridge, you reach a high flat area where the final summit crest begins.
• Final Destination: Cerro El Pabellón Summit (3,181m). The descent follows the same route back to camp to pack up and return to the trailhead.

Distances and Metrics (Day 2)

• Total Daily Distance: 10.76 kilometers (full round trip from the camp to the summit and back).
• Elevation Gain (+): 1,194 meters of pure ascent from the campsite.
• Maximum Altitude: 3,181 meters above sea level.

️ Scenic Viewpoints

• Main Ridge and Crest: As you gain altitude and leave the tree line behind, the trail offers open views of the mountain range.
• Condor Sightings: The high ridges are frequent updraft areas for Andean condors soaring close to the peaks.
• Quebrada Panorama: The pre-summit plateau and the peak itself offer panoramic views of the entire Río El Tala upper basin and the valleys toward El Rodeo.

EXPEDITION: Co. Pabellon, 3190m, 2 Days, 1 Camp
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OBJECTIVE Day 2: Ascend Co. Pabellon, return to camp, break camp, and return to the vehicles.
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STARTING POINT: Campsite at 'EL DURAZNO' Camp
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ROUTE:

-Start at 6:00 am, taking the path that skirts the hill and then climbs the small hill to the left (West) to gain altitude.
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-Return to the main hill, thus avoiding the initial slope of the Main Hill.
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-Then proceed along the ridge of the hill,
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-Trail
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-Crested Ridge
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-Ridge Trail
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-Hill
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-Rocky Slopes
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-Rocky Slopes
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-Small Balcony

-Ridge
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-Crested Ridge
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-Ridge
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-Summit
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-Return

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The last time I had travelled to the south of Argentina in winter was 13 years ago on my high school graduation trip. From this trip I have more memories of partying with friends than of the landscapes I saw, so returning after such a long time seemed interesting. I think I'm now more aware of my surroundings on every walk I take, and I'm glad I am: renewing my memories of these beautiful landscapes was something I didn't know I needed. On our motorhome trip last month we made many interesting stops, and one of them was the one that allowed us to see this small frozen waterfall ❤️.

Six days into our three-week motorhome trip we were already in a landscape surrounded by snow, something we all look forward to. I already knew it, but many of my fellow travellers did not, so it was great to accompany them on their first experience. As the second city we would visit would be Villa La Angostura and we had been to San Martin de Los Andes, it was necessary to cross the Seven Lakes Route, but not without spending a night by one of them .

The route was beautiful, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and also quite a lot of snow accumulated on the sides. Seeing the landscape painted white was something we all wanted to see, so we took advantage of the day to go for a walk. Our motorhome was parked on the shores of Lake Villarino, in a free camping area, and from there we took advantage of our afternoon to go for a short hike. The Ruta de Los Siete Lagos is 110 km in total and several of the interesting things to see are quite far from each other, so we were lucky that there was ‘something else’ to see .

According to the map, about two kilometres from where we were, there was a viewpoint of a waterfall called Vuliñanco. We had all had lunch and had enough time to go for a walk, so we walked there. The Seven Lakes Route has a few viewpoints like this one, where you can park your car and just sit and watch the scenery. They also have informative signs about what you are seeing, as if to better interpret the landscape ❤️.

To our surprise, once we reached the viewpoint of the waterfall we noticed that it was 75% frozen. There was still some water running down the side of the waterfall, but a large mass of sharp ice remained fixed in the landscape. In addition, the whole area of the viewpoint had a thick layer of snow that raised the ground level, so you could stand on the railing to see the waterfall from higher up. It may not have had the magnitude of even the smallest waterfall in the Iguazu Falls, but at least it was an interesting waterfall for an express walk .

I liked this winter trip very much, because snow and cold always have the ability to make landscapes even more beautiful. My fellow travellers and I lingered in front of the waterfall drinking mates, but not before starting the occasional snow war. I was glad to have spent my afternoon with a short walk there, because although I had already visited this route, I did not know this corner. And that is why it is sometimes worthwhile to revisit these beautiful places ❤️.

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Hiking to Summits of La Brea (1,240 m) in Catamarca, Argentina, is a moderate trail perfect for physical training.

Key Trail Facts

• Location: La Chacarita de los Padres, Capital Department, Catamarca.
• Common Trailhead: Provincial Route 4 (RP4), kilometer 7, at El Calvario (near the old quarry entrance).
• Distance: Around 8.7 km to 9 km (5.4 to 5.6 miles) round trip or loop variants.
• Elevation Gain: Approximately 460 to 550 meters (1,500 to 1,800 feet).
• Technical Difficulty: Moderate (features large steps and gate crossings).
• Route Type: Out-and-back or integrated loops.

Route Highlights

• The trail starts near the El Calvario campground along a dirt path.
• The path passes the Eucalyptus House, gates, irrigation ditches, water streams, and a pond.
• It follows mountain ridges and slopes up to the stone cairn (apacheta) at the first summit.
• You can check map details and download the guided route on Wikiloc - Cumbres de La Brea.

##OBJECTIVE: Training Trek to the SUMMITS OF LA BREA
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##OVERVIEW:
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##TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: MODERATE (Large Steps, Crossing Gates)
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##ROUTE TYPE: OUT AND BACK
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##WATER ON THE ROUTE:
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##STARTING POINT: RP4 Km7, El Calvario, old entrance to La Ripiera
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##VEHICLE PARKING: YES, on the shoulder of Provincial Route No. 4
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##DETAILS:

-Enter via the dirt road starting at the gate 100 meters from El Calvario Campsite
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-Dirt Road
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-Right Fork
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-Eucalyptus House
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-Sign Gate
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-Gate
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-Ditch Trail
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-Pond
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-Corral

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-Hollow
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-Creek Crossing
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-Pool
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-Ridge Trail
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-Slope Trail
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-Cairn 1st Summit
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-Ridge
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-Descent
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-Trail

-Fencing
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-Cairns
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-Morro Slope
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-Summit
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-Cairn 2
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-Return

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We were barely a week into our road trip through southern Argentina but it felt like we had been together a lot longer. When we started it, we were 14 strangers but after a few days, we were all friends. The good mood you get from being on the road is contagious, so it was impossible to have a bad time in that context. Every time we had to move from place to place, it was all a commotion, because of the fact that we were going to discover what we could do in the new city. Our third stop was scheduled in Villa La Angostura, one of the most beautiful cities in the province of Neuquén, and as expected, we also had some beautiful days getting to know the surroundings ❤️.

That time, our motorhome had to park in front of a square, only two blocks away from the main avenue. This location was very convenient because we were close to the center and to a gas station, which was what we were always looking for to use the public showers and restrooms. The city of Villa La Angostura has a very beautiful aesthetic of wooden buildings and everything decorated with roses that in its peak season, fill the landscape with colors. If I would have to highlight something negative is that most things are expensive in this area because of how touristy it is, but even so it does not stop being crowded all the time

After a week of travel, we needed to get a laundry room to get our clothes back in condition. We took advantage of the morning to go in search of one, and on our way back we used our free time to go for a short walk. In Villa La Angostura there are many things to do and several of them are close by, so if you like to be on foot you can visit a few of them. There are also different trekkings available, as well as public transportation to move around, so it's impossible to get bored here .

On our morning walk we decided to go to the area of the bays, 2 km away from where our motorhome was parked. This is one of the most touristy and beautiful areas close to the center, so there are always a lot of people coming and going. This place has the particularity of being a small strait between two beautiful bays, so there are two different beaches to spend the day, separated only by about 100 meters. In the area you can also find the entrance to Los Arrayanes National Park, as well as restaurants, public restrooms, kayak rentals and nautical tour services ❣️.

Regarding the bays, the traditional tour is to visit both bays and if it is within your means, to sail in one of them. In July 2024 the nautical tours cost 40,000 ARS ($30 approx), so we decided to visit them on foot. These two bays are called Bahia Mansa and Bahia Brava, very peculiar names as they are two opposite adjectives (Mansa refers to calm and Brava to rowdy). The first one we visited is Bahia Mansa, which offers a long pier to go for a walk and sit and contemplate the scenery ❤️.

That bay is my favorite, so we spent more time there. Then, we took a look at Brava Bay: just by crossing the street, you could already be on the neighboring beach. There are also boat trips from here, although the pier is not open to the public like the one at Bahía Mansa. However, sitting on the shore to spend the day in this beautiful landscape is also a good plan. What I like about this beach is that the water is crystal clear along much of the shore and gradually turns into a deep blue color ✨.

By the time we finished our walk at the end of the day, it was time to pick up our clean clothes. Visiting the area of the bays in Villa La Angostura is a good option for a close walk to get a glimpse of all the beautiful things the village has to offer. This is just a little bit of the incredible scenery that southern Argentina has to offer, so whenever I have the opportunity to return, I fly. You could never get tired of seeing landscapes as perfect as these ❤️.

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