Out And About.

[mongers]

Hippie-henge. 

I went to see it last time I was in England. They had the henge roped off, but they allowed a bunch of self-styled "Druids" in to cavort right around the stones. I guess the word hasn't gone out that Stonehenge historically had nothing to do with the Druids or their religion. 

I was briefly tempted to claim I was a 'Beaker People' Nobleman-Priest so that I, too, could cavort right up to the stones - away with these Druidical newcomers! Off to an Oak Tree Grove with the lot of you! - but restrained myself.  (Plus, I lacked a neat costume, and it was too chilly to go nude).

Yes it is rather silly, though I guess harmless and people get a laugh out of the silly costumes.

What annoys me is the free-for-all at the stones on the solstices, were tens of thousand of people get to trample over the site and stand-on or otherwise damage the stones. By all means let the silly druids in, who'll respect the stones, but don't let yahoos overwhelm the place.

[Zanza]

As requested a brief Patagonia AAR.

I spent some days in Buenos Aires before I flew to El Calafate. Took a bus to El Chalten and shot this picture on the way.



The next day I took a 18 km hike to Laguna Torre, which is located under the imposing Cerro Torre. Sadly, I never saw that mountain.

Started very early the next day, went up to Laguna de los Tres, from which I got a perfect view at Cerro Fitzroy.





As I had time, I hiked over to Torre again. While I did again not see it, the hike there was worth it. Probably 28 km or so that day.



Went back to El Calafate that evening and took a tour to Glaciar Perito Moreno the next day. Awesome weather and the ice hike was simply stunning. It's a world of its own. The front of the glacier is also extremely impressive.





Next day was a long dull bus ride to Puerto Natales in Chile, which is also nondescript.

Started out my Torres del Paine trek the next day, although I just drove to the park and didn't go hiking yet. I spent a total of five nights in the park. All in Refugios with three meals. That meant I didn't have to carry a tent, was not cold at night and got real food. That probably vastly enhanced my experience, but it's not cheap.

The park itself is really beautiful and I understand why it is considered to be among the best hiking areas in the world. Turquoise lakes, imposing, very steep mountains with snow caps, glaciers, raging creeks and rivers, diverse vegetation. I hiked about 95 km in five days across good paths. At Glaciar Grey I also kayaked to the glacier front and did another ice hike, both of which were beautiful.













After this I had another bus ride to Punta Arenas on the Magellan Strait. My twelve days in Patagonia ended with a flight to Santiago.

I met a lot of interesting people along the way, mostly Americans, and spent up to several days with them. It's actually rather social even if you start your trip on your own.

[katmai]

[Admiral Yi]

Which backside is yours, if any?

[Zanza]

It is me drinking the water from the glacier.

[Admiral Yi]

Nice pooper.

[Tonitrus]

Cool pics.  Thanks. 

[Zanza]

Atacama and Uyuni AAR

After Patagonia I went to Northern Chile, namely the tourist village of San Pedro de Atacama. After some Sandboarding I visited the Geysirs of Tatio and the Valle de la Luna, both beautiful.




The next days were spent in Bolivia along the Andes and finally the Salar de Uyuni, the biggest salt flat in the world. This tourist drive becomes ever more popular and it's easy to see why. The landscape was spectacular.



My final day in Chile was spent climbing the active volcano Lascar.

[mongers]

 

Zanza, very cool expedition and photos. 

[alfred russel]

That sucks about the Cerro Torre. I did the Laguna de los Tres trek about three years ago, and I think I know the vantage point you posted that picture from, but on that day everything was fogged in and I couldnt' see a thing. Still was a memorable day.

[Razgovory]

What a godaweful place to live.

[Eddie Teach]

What a godaweful place to live.

Like a colder New Mexico with llamas.

Probably not a bad place to visit though, in the early summer.

[Zanza]

What a godaweful place to live.

Very few people do. Unsurprisingly.

[MadImmortalMan]

I certainly can't beat Zanza, but here's some more stuff from the ordinance museum in Hawthorne, NV.

[MadImmortalMan]

Death Valley borax works.