Training Log Archive: CleverSky

Snow dealings, round 3. I think this was when I did this. Snowblowed my driveway of the minor accumulation that occurred just before we flew home, after I had driven on it a couple of times, and also did the mailbox. Never bothered with Nancy's, and it eventually melted. It's also possible that her electric snowblower stopped working while her catsitter was using it during our trip, so I need to look into that.

A few miles of walking back and forth from the parking garage near Nancy's office, to the RMV, to her office, back to the RMV, and back to the garage, in order to get her new car registered, as part of "all hell breaks loose" day upon our return from South America. And shortly after that got slightly sick, postponing my return to moderate activity.

Grey Lake (Torres del Paine). This was where we encountered real wind. Not sure if I've ever been out in conditions like this ever before. The hike started with the crossing of a suspension bridge (a little bouncy, but not bad) with a stiff breeze. Then a little bit of woods and out onto the beach. Strange topography here, for some reason a long gravel bar has formed that connects an island to the shore, with gravel flats below it. We walked out to the island, did a circuit of it, and then returned. There's a glacier up at the far end of the lake, and there are some stranded icebergs down at the end that we were at. And it was... really really windy. OMG. But fortunately, pleasantly warm.

Salto Grande (Torres del Paine). Short group walk to see some rapids. We were incredibly fortunate in terms of the weatherfor this entire trip, including our two days here, where we had fantastic views of the peaks (the Horns and the Towers) that are often lost in the clouds. The bus trip also featured a bunch of exotic fauna, including so many guanacos that we lost interest in seeing them, and some Lesser Rheas.

Sarmiento Lake (pH 9.1!) (Torres del Paine), group walk. From the bus down toward the lake and back, and I was finding the conditions a little annoying because it was windy. Or so I thought.

(Also another couple of short strolls with the group for which I didn't bother to start my watch. And a bunch of bus riding.)

Magdalena Island, walking around with Nancy. Made it to another lighthouse (we had also seen a few from the boat), and then took a stroll on this island until the ship's horn blew, indicating that the wind was picking up and we needed to get back on board. What distinguishes this island is that it's a rookery for gulls and Magellanic penguins. We were able to get up very close with the latter, sometimes needing to wait for a few minutes as they crossed the path (they have the right of way).

Oops, forgot to update this one. This was a walk around the Cave of the Milodon, where there are no longer any milodon fossils. The track doesn't show it, but we went quite a way underground. And then I forgot to turn the watch off when we got back on the bus.

Aguila glacier. A pleasant stroll on the beach with the whole group, during which we saw a sea lion, various birds, and a red fox.

Followed by a trip to Condor glacier. This was entirely a zodiac ride, but we were able to get very close to the base of the glacier. We also got our flirst glimpse of Andean condors, as they flew in to land on some ledges, and then hung out there.

Pia Glacier, Demanding edition. This was billed as being a very muddy hike, and although there was certainly a bit of that, I didn't even get my socks wet until it startedd raining and the water came in from the top. The touted boulders at the top of the hill were also no big deal for an orienteer. This was the most active glacier that we visited, and we did have the pleasure of seeing one moderate sized chunk calve off into the water and produce some waves.

The Waterfall Hike, Extreme edition. There were two options: stay on the ship and hope for a nice view of Garibaldi Glacier (which turned out to be rather brief because of a squall that produced winds that made the captain uncomfortable), or a hike that they warned was actually a rather difficult climb. A few of the members of our party who hadn't done the other demanding excursions considered it, but (fortunately) decided against it, so only three of us, along with maybe a dozen and a half others and three guides, hopped on the zodiacs to head up into the forest. My feeling is that the hype was misleading, and the hike was actually considerably more of an undertaking. I've done stuff of this caliber on my own, to be sure, but I've never seen a group led into this kind of terrain. There was a route that could be followed, but I wouldn't call it a trail. It was raining the whole time, and wet feet were a given (we started by walking up a creek). Lots of mud, plenty of spots where people were helping those just ahead of behind, a crossing of a steep, frigid, rushing stream (with a rope to hold onto), and then pulling ourselves hand over hand up the last steep section using ropes like Batman and Robin from the 1960s TV show. And it was all about the journey, and the waterfall itself wasn't all that exciting. Everyone was muddy, completely drenched, and a bit cold at the end. Quite fine.

Walking around Isla Hornos with Nancy. This is the southernmost place I've ever been, and quite possibly the southermost place I ever will be, since pretty much the only way to outdo it would be to go to Antarctica. We really lucked out on the weather, as it was pretty much calm, and wind or waves often prevent landing. One of the few places where you can see two oceans at once, and we got to visit a lighthouse, to boot (which I -- sort of -- broke into).

Wulaia Bay, Demanding edition. There were three options for this excursion, and I took the most strenuous of the three. Nice views from the place where we turned around. This was the first of several outings where GC Web Sync couldn't come up with any place name at all to describe where I was.

Tierra del Fuego National Park, group hike with the Road Scholar people. This included getting picked up at the southern end of the Panamerica Highway.

After a mornnig flight south to Ushuaia, Mafalda and walked through the city (and a bit on trails) up toward the glacier, high enough to get a nice view.

We were fortunate to have a rare day, mostly sunny with the temperature around 60F, although down near the water, the wind was really cranking.

And then back down.

Various bits of walking around Buenos Aires with Nancy (henceforth known as Mafalda). Didn't always get the watch started right away, and I didn't turn it on for the morning group walk.

Visited a couple of creepy churches, and a tall ship that's been converted to a museum. Also this cemetery (where the elite of Buenos Aires are entombed, including Eva Peron, after her body was returned from exile). Although it doesn't necessarily look like it from the aerial view, on the ground it seems like it would make a fine and interesting sprint venue.


And mixed in with the pigeons, there are other interesting city birds in these parts (anyone care to ID?).

C • On our part of one day in B... 1

C • Link 2

A little walking around Buenos Aires from the hotel to the Opera House and back. Later on, a wine tasting (or in my case, a wine listening).