LA JUNTA: VALLE DE COCHAMÓ
DAY 0: Trekking to the Refugio
Tuesday, Nov. 11th, 2008. It’s Day 132 on The Big Trip.
It takes us 5 hours and the sacrifice of dry socks and dry shoes to get to what could be the refugio but is not. Because there is no place for us to take cover unless we ford the rivers and we cannot find anyone to guide us to such places, we are beginning to think that we’ll be sleeping outside tonight. With no tent or shelter, that is. So, we don’t give up but we forge on. Alisa fords a tribulet with waist-high freezing water. And back. We relax in the field for the moment, taking in the sights and sounds of the valley.
Then we go yelling for people. Thankfully, Daniel Seeliger, savior and owner of the refugio yells back across the river. He returns with an extra harness and an extra pulley. That’s how you cross the river, of course! He also reminds me that you Never leave home without your harness and shoes. It’s a cardinal rule. I didn’t want to break it for this trip, but I did! You can watch this fun crossing in the video!
We meet Daniel, Silvina and Zenon, the awesome family that runs the Refugio Cochamó in the heart of the valley. And at dinner we meet many friends thereof, as well. The refugio reminds me of a warm family camp. Except this warm family camp comes with a window into a fairytale land of granite mounds, whose iceburg tips and tips only rise up from the foliage amidst a constant rushing and crashing of a system of waterfalls and tributaries.
I think we’re going to like this place!
Even the nearby town of Cochamó is gorgeous.
Cochamó Valle Day 0
Posted by Unknown at 11:09 AM
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2 comments:
you two are the cutest! and most adventurous! that place looks beautiful. glad you found the refugio so you didn't have to kill a wild beast and sleep in its belly survival-style for night-time warmth.
love from the East Bay!
You haven't seen most of the pictures and videos or been there! It's just superb. I bet it's downright ugly there when it rains, but when you get nearly-cloudless days like we had, I'm not sure there's anything better! I want to be there for February; We'll see if I can earn enough for that to come true! More to come! Your comment made me think of Star Wars with the snowbeast of bellywarmth!
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