Ensanada, Pto. Varas, Pto. Montt, Entre Lagos, y Osorno - Chile

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Jumping for joy during the Sendero Rojo trek at Volcan Osorno!

May 8th, 2009: DRIVING to ENSANADA, CHILE

We set off to cross the Argentinean-Chilean border, a ritual we carry out every 3 months, to renew our Visas. This time, our - surprise! - neighbors from California are joining us! Introducing: Brittany & Miles!!!

We had to pull off before even reaching the one-hour-away Villa La Angostura to snap a photo! Road trip! We're driving into strong winds and rain!

We make it to the border! Unfortunately, all of the miradors (SEE: viewpoints) were clouded over and the volcanoes and mountains in this lake district that we recalled from previous trips were left to memory!BEFORE shot. Remember this shot for the AFTER shot comparison!

May 9th, 2009: VOLCAN OSORNO to PTO. MONTT (shopping) and PTO. VARAS (sleeping)

Going on the suggestion by Brittany and Miles, Alisa and I take a walk on the beach very close to the cabaña that we rented in cute little Ensanada, Chile. Here we are with Volcan Osorno looming a mere few kilometers away.

After walking on the beach and seeing Volcan Osorno, the four of us can't help but drive to the volcano before heading to Puerto Montt to do some shopping. Aside: the shopping in Chile is due to the fact that many things, like peanut butter, clothing, and electronics, are cheaper in Chile than Argentina. At the end of the winding uphill switchback road to the volcano covered atop by glaciers made of blue and white sugar, we find ski lifts, a restaurant, and a little hike! Bracing the cold, we start running and hiking! Alisa enjoying the view during the "Red Trail" trek at Volcan Osorno.
Alisa victorious and cold on the short trek! The wind and air was the first resemblance of winter that we'd felt in over a year. Heck, Seattle's rain didn't count: two years!
The goofy gringo crew, at the end of the trek! Time to warm up our hands and faces; let's run the 1k back to the car!

May 10th, 2009: RETURN to ARGENTINA

We wake up early and leave the nice little hostel that Alisa and I had stayed at a number of times already. I'm supposed to work 4pm to 12am today. Little did we know that there would be a lot of snow on the border passage and an obligation to carry tire chains, which would cost us a 50km drive back to and from Entre Lagos and an outrageous price for a malfunction-prone pair of tire chains.AFTER shot. Is that snow?!

Brittany and I and Alisa are tough car-pushers, necessary accessories for crossing the Andes/border, and a good replacement for chains!

We made it back to Bariloche to find that someone sprinkled - more like dropped - a lot of snow on top of all of the mountains here, leaving Bariloche looking like a bunch of green sugar-sprinkled gumdrops! Can't wait to go skiing and snowboarding!

-N8