Kids,

How is it?

Argentine trails - can anyone point me towards to stories slash websites slash inspirational maps about dirt riding in Argentina, especially in the warmer north. Country that big and beautiful, there must be a lifetime of good dirt, but all I ever see are Ruta 40 gravel gripes.

Thanks, suerte, Dan Walsh

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Que el cielo exista, aunque mi lugar sea el infierno...

My ITM map (lower SA) shows many roads in that area. A good local map should be able to get you into trouble fairly fast.

Did northern Argentina a few months back and recall a long stint of gravel and dirt to the west of Ruta 40. Started near Abra Pampa and (don't recall the route off the top of my head) headed south through the town of Antofagasta de la Sierra(there's one way in and one way out) and eventually hit 40 again. The leg was probably close to 600 k's.

Take a squiz at this....there's some good photos...

Southern Comfort - ADVrider

Also, me and the misses should be hitting the area in the next few days. I'll keep a beady out for good maps etc...
M.

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Two wheels good,
Four wheels bad (unless it's two bikes).

http://www.markincyberspace.com

The first thing would be to get a map from the Automovil Club Argentino. We found it very accurate and up-to-date, and it shows the different degrees of difficulty (4wd-only / easy dirt / good gravel). An online version is available on their web site at: Automovil Club Argentino

We usually found the dirt roads relatively easy in Argentina and Chile, although we may not have taken the most challenging ones, and everything might have seemed very easy to us after Africa.

The basic rule of enjoyable riding is to cross over the Andes between Chile and Argentina as often as you can. The second thing to keep in mind is that if you cannot cross the highest passes because of the season, the North of Argentina is much more enjoyable than the Chilean side. If you must keep heading south as a general direction, you will be much happier on Ruta 40 and its side roads in Argentina than along the trans-Am in Chile. Further south, it's the opposite: Ruta 40 in Patagonia is ok but a bit boring while the Carretera Austral in Chile is a wonder not to be missed. Even further south, you don't have the choice: you have to come back to Argentina and Ruta 40, the Glaciers and the little gem of El Chalten if you like hiking.

Pictures:
Pictures of South-America

Stories from the south of Argentina & Chile (there are more stories in the Archives)
Pierre-Journal: No al asfalto
Pierre-Journal: Men on their knees
Merritt-Journal: Patagonia on the rocks
Merritt-Journal: Treachery, conflicts and hardships
Merritt-Journal: Wet things make me smile

Enjoy the ride!
Pierre - Photobiker

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Pierre Saslawsky
http://photobiker.com

Cheers, kids. Ta, Waverider and LoneRider (brothers or just same surname?). I wish I'd explored the area myself. Next time, inshallah.

Pierre - amazing photos, man, as usual. Where are you now? Still travelling? Long time since Nazca, no?

Mark - your blog made me chuckle. Keep avoiding the mongoes - those cock-knockers are everywhere. Though no-one ever seems to say it out loud. Sssshhhh.

Suerte, Dan

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Que el cielo exista, aunque mi lugar sea el infierno...

Dan i've been reading Hubert Kriegel's trip report,Timeless Ride. He has just come north from Antartica and the roads he's been on look fantastic.Argentina and Chilie.
Someday I want to see it all too.

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ride,smile,repeat as nessasary

Hi Dan

I think this could well be what you're looking for. Certainly fired me up (again)!

Regards, Mick

Mick - bingo! Thanks for that, man - what an amazing find! Loved the pics, loved the stories, loved the fact that the first few trips were done in an old Renault 12. Ace - that's the next ten years of my life sorted.

Pat - cheers, buddy. Yep, you're right - Lone Rider and Luke both ride and write great trips. Nothing but respect for those fellas who dig out new routes on old kit and keep smiling even when they're seeing more welders than waterfalls.

I do love this website.

Suerte, Dan Walsh

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Que el cielo exista, aunque mi lugar sea el infierno...