Patagonia was different for me in January of 2020. Before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world, this last hurrah (for now at least) for my international travel with NOLS was an amazing experience. I worked my first ever hiking course for the school, explored new to me terrain, and worked my first NOLS Custom Education course. I flew down at the beginning of January and arrived in Coyhaique to welcoming faces and wonderful vibes. I walked through the mountains with eager, engaged students, facing a myriad of challenges that typify the Patagonian experience, then spent time climbing nearby cliffs and a day rafting a nearby river, all with supportive and fun people.
In the wedding tent at NOLS Patagonia: preparing gear to head into the field with a cadre of Columbia Business School students. Jan 2020
The rainy trailhead; the bus is gone, but the clouds remain. On the Caratera Austral, west side of the Arellano Range.
Packs off break during the uphill slog of day one: Josh, Tina, Matt
The endless fence lines of the campos.
The impromptu camp, we found each other, then this place; good enough.
Day three, wandering through the fire swamp; there is freedom in wet feet.
Views of the mountains on day three.
Pointing is leadership; sussing out the route into the mountains.
Out of the fire swamp and into the open meadows and forests.
Rest day swimming under Bajagonia blue skies.
Lauren and Handson making pizza
Home for two nights.
Crossing over the pass
Easy travel down Rio Sin Nombre
The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; camp along Rio Sin Nombre
Camp after a long day
Rest day, low fuel, wet gear, wet spirits
Matt tending the fire
Drying feet, lifting spirits
Camp near lago 1126m
Down valley from paso lago 1126m
Lago 1126m
Handson and Mafe sharing mate in the days pre-Covid-19
Sarah and Lauren at the fire
Tina living the Patagonia smokey fire lifestyle
Mafe and Jared at the final camp
Group picture at camp near the Careterra Austal
A zoomed in map of our route.
The gorgeous gorges of Rio La Paloma
After the swim; I appear pale and scared, this is accurate
More gorges
An impromptu debrief on the banks downstream
Another Baysider cover photo.
In the wedding tent at NOLS Patagonia: preparing gear to head into the field with a cadre of Columbia Business School students. Jan 2020
Packs off break during the uphill slog of day one: Josh, Tina, Matt
The endless fence lines of the campos.
The impromptu camp, we found each other, then this place; good enough.
Views of the mountains on day three.
Day three, wandering through the fire swamp; there is freedom in wet feet.
Out of the fire swamp and into the open meadows and forests.
Pointing is leadership; sussing out the route into the mountains.
Rest day swimming under Bajagonia blue skies.
Crossing over the pass
Crossing over the pass
Easy travel down Rio Sin Nombre
The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; camp along Rio Sin Nombre
Camp after a long day
Rest day, low fuel, wet gear, wet spirits
Drying feet, lifting spirits
Sarah and Lauren at the fire
Camp near lago 1126m
Lago 1126m
Down valley from paso lago 1126m
Handson and Mafe sharing mate in the days pre-Covid-19
Matt tending the fire
Tina living the Patagonia smokey fire lifestyle
Mafe and Jared at the final camp
Group picture at camp near the Careterra Austal
After the swim; I appear pale and scared, this is accurate
The gorgeous gorges of Rio La Paloma
An impromptu debrief on the banks downstream
Another Baysider cover photo.