Wilderness Hike

Friday, January 11, 2013 - Bariloche, Argentina

Today started with a lesson about the states of Argentina.  Well, actually Argentina has provinces instead of states.  We went to the largest national park in South America. This park was made after a man named Carlos who donated it and wanted to make it a park for people to go to in the future. 

Bariloche is in Patagonia. The word Patagonia comes from a myth that the Natives would take animal skin and rap it around their legs to make them look like they have huge feet. The word (pata) means feet in Spanish. Ok - I won't embellish. The natives feet were not huge but they were pretty big. 

To get to the top of Cerro Campanario we had to take a ski lift.  When we were pretty high up I started to shiver but still I never took the smile off my face. When we got to the top OMG!!!!!!!!!!  There was an incredible view of the mountains.  Actually it was named one of the ten most amazing views by the national geographic. 

Now I could tell why it was a great view of also the lakes.  We saw a view of the lake we went canoeing in yesterday except it looked much smaller.  Up were we were it was quite chilly but I did not feel it I was to amazed by the view.  




Next after going to Cerro Campanario, we took a hike. It was a nice walk beside for the fact I kept getting bit by horse flies.  They were attacking me.  


Finally, when we reached our destination, we stopped on a rock to have some factoras and Yerba Matte. Factoras are pastries in Spanish. A popular pastry is the churro.  Believe me as soon as you try the churro you will know that it is the best pastry ever.  A churro is like a cookie with sugar and it is filled with dulce de leche. It is originally from Spain. 

We also had Yerba Mate that is a traditional drink they drink here in Argentina.  They make it by taking herbs and poring a little hot water.  It is passed around in a circle as a sign of friendship and everyone drinks and then passes it with the straw facing to the person the pass it to.  When the straw is facing you it is a sign that you don't care. 

On our way back we saw many trees. We saw the Arrayanes trees. That is a tree that has tanning. That is like an orange skin that grows very slowly.  The skin protects the tree from getting drilled in by woodpeckers.  Have you ever seen someone take a knife and carve there name in a tree?  Well, its actually harming the tree. It's the same as carving into your own skin. So remember that next time you carve into a tree. 

We also saw some bamboo trees. 

My sister and I walked so much we were tired we used the bamboo stick as a walker like true hikers.  Sadly when we got back it was over.  I could have never learned this all or have seen this all if it was not for my amazing tour guide named Erika.