Hi everyone!
I'm in Santiago, Chile planning my route south. I want to arrive the latest in Ushuaia that I can without experiencing snow or ice in order to maximize my time trekking in the amazing Lake and Patagonia districts. I'm thinking this should be March 15th.
I posted awhile back
here which gave me a great idea on what my route would be. I also posted about a the
Cardenal Samore border crossing being closed for the next 15-30 days.
In any case here's my idea of a route. Would love your feedback and thoughts:
1) Santiago => Puco (I want to get down to the start of the lakes region ASAP). Check out Villarrica
2) |BORDER CROSSING (Chile => Argentina)| at Paso Mamuil Malal for Parque Lanin and check that sucker out
3) Stop at San Martin de los Andes
4) Stop at Villa Traful
5) Stop at Villa La Angostura
6) Stop at Cerro Catedral
7) Stop at Bariloche
8) Try to climb Tronador (what a wicked sounding mountain) on Chilean side)
9) |BORDER CROSSING (Argentina ==> Chile)| [If the Paso Cardenal Antonio Samoré is open] Cross for Chile
[If it's not open] Paso Futaleufu; (WAY FARTHER SOUTH than I wanted to cross)
10) Chalten
11) Highway 7 in Chile until I run out of Chile
12) |BORDER CROSSING (Argentina ==> Chile)| for Paso Rio Mayer Ribera Norte or Paso Rio Mosco (not sure which one is better)
13) Hit up El Calafate, Perito Moreno Glacier
14) |BORDER CROSSING (Argentina ==> Chile)| for Torres del Paine National Park and do some hiking
15) Head for Punto Arenas
16) Ushuaia
Additional Questions:
1) If I'm going to Buenos Aires afterwards, does it make sense to double back north along the same route; or go for route 3 along the coast of Argentina (which I've heard is incredibly boring).
2) What is really the latest I can arrive without having *any* fear of snow/ice in Ushuaia or the road north from there? I don't mind cold but snow and ice scare the living Jesus out of me.
Thanks so much in advance!
Best,
David
PS: If you happen to be interested in riding parts of this with me or want to meet up on the road south; would love to hear from you!