Forum Index > Trip Reports > Hiking in northern Patagonia Part 4
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RichP
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PostSun Feb 21, 2010 8:11 am 
This is the final trip report from about three weeks of hiking in Rio Negro and Neuquen Provinces in Argentina. El Bolson is a quaint town near the 42nd parallel which is the border between Rio Negro and Chubut province. El Bolson roughly translates to "the big bag" and is known as an agricultural area which produces berries and hops. The microclimate created by the sheltering mountains allows for warmer temperatures and less wind than found in other areas of Patagonia. It's also been part of a thriving counterculture scene in Argentina since the 70's. The art fair, which happens three or four times a week, is a big attraction for tourists and locals alike. The mountains that surround the town rise some 6000 ft in a short distance and are striking to behold. To the west lies the protected area of Rio Azul/ Lago Esconido with primo hiking and is similar to our wilderness areas in the US. To the south is Lago Puelo National Park, and on the east side of town, el Cerro Piltriquitron at 2288 meters (about 7,500') is the main feature. This peak provided an excellent viewpoint of the entire region.
El Cerro Piltriquitron from downtown El Bolson
El Cerro Piltriquitron from downtown El Bolson
We took a taxi up to the trailhead at 1,100 meters from town and soon passed "el bosque tallado" or carved forest, which is an art exhibit made from the trunks of trees in an old burn.
Entering bosque tallado
Entering bosque tallado
Looking down on El Bolson from the bosque tallado
Looking down on El Bolson from the bosque tallado
another carving
another carving
Gaucho in bosque tallado
Gaucho in bosque tallado
Bosque Tallado
Bosque Tallado
The refugio, located at 1,500 meters is a nice place to camp or spend the day.
Refugio Piltriquitron 1500 meters
Refugio Piltriquitron 1500 meters
Inside regugio Piltriquitron
Inside regugio Piltriquitron
Typical menu in the refugios
Typical menu in the refugios
View across valley
View across valley
Looking down from near the refugio
Looking down from near the refugio
From there the trail heads straight up through an old ski area to the summit.
Flattish area
Flattish area
Arriving to Plateau on Piltri
Arriving to Plateau on Piltri
More tiny flowers on Piltri
More tiny flowers on Piltri
Same
Same
Flowers on Piltri
Flowers on Piltri
Getting high
Getting high
El condor pasa
El condor pasa
Tiny flower high on el Piltri
Tiny flower high on el Piltri
A strange creature
A strange creature
Summit of El Piltri
Summit of El Piltri
El Bolson from the summit of el Piltri
El Bolson from the summit of el Piltri
Lago Puelo and the most striking peak in the area, Cerro Tres Picos at 2500+ meters
Lago Puelo and the most striking peak in the area, Cerro Tres Picos at 2500+ meters
View across the valley to the cordillera de los Andes
View across the valley to the cordillera de los Andes
Last few feet to summit
Last few feet to summit
On the summit of cerro Piltriquitron 2284 meters
On the summit of cerro Piltriquitron 2284 meters
El Tronador is on the right
El Tronador is on the right
In the refugio after the hike. The beer is made by the staff
In the refugio after the hike. The beer is made by the staff
If I had any advice for anyone planning a travel to Patagonia, it would be not to try to see it all in one trip. Distances are great and one can spend a lot of time simply sitting on buses. Choose a couple of areas and get to know them well. There is so much more than the places that we see in travel guides or that are heavily promoted as "must see destinations." Happy trails.

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Magellan
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Magellan
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PostSun Feb 21, 2010 11:22 am 
Nice! up.gif Can you convert those prices for me? $45 pizza? eek.gif

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RichP
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PostSun Feb 21, 2010 11:38 am 
Magellan wrote:
Nice! up.gif Can you convert those prices for me? $45 pizza? eek.gif
At today's exchange rate, that would be about $11.60. That's pretty expensive for a pizza anywhere in Argentina but not too bad considering everything is carried up the mountain.

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ree
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ree
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PostSun Feb 21, 2010 12:16 pm 
I'd say that's a good price for a pizza! up.gif I just recently met a woman who spent a long time in Argentina and she told me about that forest of carvings! So nice to see pictures of it! Thanks. And good advice about focusing on certain areas. South America looks like it has heaps of stuff to see. The Atacama Desert will have to be saved for my 2nd trip to S.A.

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mike
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PostSun Feb 21, 2010 12:33 pm 
Have you been out to see Butch Cassidy's cabin?

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NWtrax
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PostSun Feb 21, 2010 1:14 pm 
Thanks for all the reports Rich! I think i liked the first report based on pictures alone, but all of the areas had great appeal.

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RichP
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RichP
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PostSun Feb 21, 2010 5:25 pm 
mike wrote:
Have you been out to see Butch Cassidy's cabin?
It's nearby but I didn't see it. I guess I'll have to go back sometime and check it out.

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ree
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ree
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PostSun Apr 04, 2010 9:09 am 
We ordered the hot chocolate. up.gif We picked up a couple young hikers in our hostel and gave them a lift to the trailhead. As a thank you, they bought us the drinks. up.gif

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Hiking in northern Patagonia Part 4
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