Course Three Of Three Concludes

February 11, 2012

Hola people! We’re back! Our group, Los Chunchos (pygmy owl) had a fantastic month in the Cerro Colmillo area. The route we pursued was challenging, exploratory, and wonderfully diverse. Here are some snap shots from our experience.



Caitlin and four students at battle with the Rio Engaño. This was day three!



Snow School! Caitlin demonstrating proper technique for kicking steps in steep snow.



Ten of our fifteen participants making their way through the glacial maze. The rock buttress at upper right would become our high camp.



After teaching glacial travel skills we decided it was time to climb. Our objective? The unnamed peak on the right. Spectacular alpenglow (when the sun is just below the horizon, a red glowing, band appears).



Success! KG, Caitlin, and I on the summit. Our route provided students with a great mix of terrain including steep snow, rock, and clipping through pieces of protection placed in areas of higher consequence. With such an amazing weather window, we decided we’d attempt Cerro Colmillo, the area’s highest point, the following day.



But… A storm moved in. We spent six days tent bound due to poor visibility, high winds, and continuous snow fall. Each evening we were optimistic the storm would pass. It never did. In the end, we left our high camp in a whiteout and humbly descended to the trees.



Our descent brought us to a beautiful lake, 1000 meters below where we’d just cowered. The lake cascaded onto this slick rock slab before a series of steep, slick rock tiers took the waters to the valley floor.

The culmination of this course brings our field time in Patagonia to a close. The past five months have been incredible. The terrain, unparallelled. The culture, inspiring. The people, generous beyond belief. I honestly never thought I’d have the opportunity to spend time in this part of the world and won’t soon forget the amazing experiences I’ve been so fortunate to have.

Tomorrow we’ll fly south to Punta Arenas and take a bus to Puerto Natales to cast our eyes upon Parque Nacional Torres del Paine and hopefully visit an island that is home to over 10,000 penguin couples. Our time down here officially ends on February 19th when we’ll start our 24 hour journey back to the United States.

Here’s to living in the moment.

Riley