Fall Trek '24
Written by: Diana
Near the Carraterra de Austral, which is the highway through Chilean Patagonia, we set our camp after long, long hiking day through the Chacabuco Valley. We came out from the private 4-wheeler road winding not far away from Laguna de Guagua, our last night’s camp spot. We are staying here after the day of looking for water and not succeeding, however, everyone is in high spirits. “No X – no problems”! Everywhere around the camp, wherever you look, the heart misses a beat from the incredibility of the landscape. Voluminous mountains – either green and foresty, or rocky and steep, or covered with snow caps, are trying to break the barrier from a dream to reality– while my brain still perceives all the beauty around as a painted canvas. Guanaco herds are thriving around us. Some observe our group, while others are playing with each other, caring for little chilengos, and sometimes making cute dolphin-like noises.
Our tents are fluttering in the never-stopping Patagonian wind, trying to fight the stakes in the ground and fly away into the valley. I go farther away from our camp, cross the highway (it is honestly just a gravel road with no more than a few dozens of cars driving past us during the day), and go uphill into a tiny pocket between two rocky cliffs on a hill. Rocks, grass and low prickly desert bushes are under my feet. I got used to the prickliness of Patagonia days ago – I’ll take the prickles from my shoes and socks when I reach my destination, and will definitely collect many more again on my way back for lunch.
I am trying to catch my breath from the uphill, but trying to not slow down, as the solo time is priceless and finite. I don’t know what is waiting for me there, between the rocks after the turn, and freeze when I lift my eyes and see it. Tiny valley between the rocky hills is covered with light, almost white grass. It is swaying harmonically, whispering and shining softly in the sun. As the hills go higher, the grass turns into lumps, then bushes, and then into bare rocks. The hill is high enough to show me all the mountains, valleys, and rivers all around. Clouds pass the sunshine rays here and there, splashing the tops of rocks, river valley, unknown and wild parts of Patagonia. This place will not answer all of my questions, but it gives me the understanding of one fact – wherever I go, whatever I experience, the world is boundless and is waiting for my glance, and one should live fully to catch all its lights and shades.
