Patagonia

Patagonia

For years my husband and I have wanted to travel to Patagonia. The landscape looked breathtaking and every time Patagonia was mentioned people would buzz with excitement and desire to visit. So 2019 was the year we committed to go, no matter what. The cost was extremely more expensive than our other trips and we had to book our trip in the spring to secure our place in the busy season of Patagonia's summer. As the trip approached in December, the anticipation was put to the side as family commitments, holiday craziness, and our jobs took precedent. A week before our journey I developed shingles. At 30 years old, this was surprising and worrisome for our backpacking trip but nothing was going to stop this trip. So I immediately started thinking about my attitude and perspective for this adventure. I wanted to enjoy this trip and stay strong throughout the journey. I knew my body could handle more than I realized and I committed myself to a positive attitude!

And off we went with backpacks full of base layers, gloves, and jackets! We began in Chile at Eco Camp. The landscape was so diverse, from deserts to lakes to mountains and glaciers. The different colors represented were so vibrant and contrasting. Locals and guides were passionate and prideful about Patagonia, strongly devoted to preserving her beauty. Eco Camp represented a luxury camping environment with relaxed mountain vibes and style. I loved wearing yoga pants, thick socks, no make-up and messy hair. We meet amazing people at Eco Camp and swapped life stories while playing games like Settlers of Catan and Spades. One of my favorite things about traveling is the people one meets on the journey. Relationships are formed that would never otherwise exist outside of travel. The food at Eco Camp exceeded expectations with appetizers, three-course meals, all homemade and designed with care. 

Our first day of hiking was an 18-mile hike in French Valley. In Patagonia, they say you experience all 4 seasons in one day. We found the truth of this statement as the weather turned from sunny to windy to rain and snow within minutes. We learned to watch the sky and movement of the clouds. The hike consisted of constantly removing layers of jackets and sweaters and adding layers of jackets and sweaters as the weather changed. We saw all kinds of people on the trails. Families with small children, couples with giants backpacks weighing 60 pounds, regular hikers, and unprepared hikers. The most surprising element for me was the wind. It's indescribable with its harsh gusts and piercing strength. The wind also caused my nose to immediately start running. I saw many people on the trial endlessly trying to wipe their noses with kleenex. Our neck gaiters became one of our favorite things on this trip since they protected our ears and face from the harsh winds and keep our hats from blowing away. Our hiking poles saved our knees, especially on the rocky descents we seemed to embark on at some point each day. 

The rest of the trip is summed up by the experience we had on day one. We hiked and hiked and hiked all over Chile and Argentina. We had 2 days that we didn't hike due to our bodies' exhaustion. Overall, we walked 70 miles in the course of 7 days, some days were longer hikes and other days shorter. We saw a puma stalking a guanaco on our way out of the national park in Chile. We learned that our guides lie about how much time and distance is left on the trail to keep us going. We survived Via Ferrata which turned out to be my husband's favorite experience of the trip. We walked on two different glaciers with crampons, taking small penguin steps on inclines and big monkey steps on declines. My husband experienced a severe allergic reaction to chickpeas on a mountain and for the first time in our marriage had to use an epi-pen due to the fact that his throat was closing up. We camped out for two nights in Argentina, conversing with our guide during our meals in the camp domes. 

The experience was amazing. The ten days of our vacation were so rich with life, experience, nature, and beauty. Our bodies were pushed to the limit and we survived. The whole experience was a wonderful release and end to 2019. I left Patagonia with newfound inner strength and pride for myself at what I had accomplished. My heart is full of scenes, sounds, and smells of another beautiful place on earth that I was able to experience with my husband. I came home full of gratitude and hope for 2020. One of my coworkers asked if I found the meaning of life and the desires of my heart during my journey in Patagonia and I just laughed, saying "no". But as I process this journey and experience I feel that maybe I was given more than I initially realized. Maybe Patagonia and my encounter with her changed me in ways not yet known in which I hope will be revealed as I continue to journey through life.