Part 20: Argentina - Looking For Big Mountains
Monday, 7 July 2014 6:57 am
Monday 7th July:
The truck stop was just that, with the comings and goings of cattle and grain trucks all night.
The sky is blue and we continue further west. All morning the country is still flat and has been so for now nearly 800kms. At lunch the altitude is still only 300metre rising slowly at the rate of only 40metres/100kms.
We pull off the main roads onto more country roads and as we crest a rise at 800 metres we sight the first mountains in more than a 1,000kms.
Is the start of the Andes ?
No not yet !
Well it took us only a day and a half and already we are on dotted lines heading for the old gold mining town of Carolina.
The country is stark, barren and a hard place to make a living. Old stone fences run up and down the hills.
Camp 369: Carolina - Old Gold Mining Town Camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 1665 meters
S32* 48.331 W066* 05.216
Today: 404Kms
Trip Total: 114,362Km
Tuesday 8th July:
Carolina produced gold way back in the Inca time and the locals exploited later by the Spanish, now the locals try to make a living from tourists.
There are a few original buildings and lots of electrical poles and wires !
The country side is stoney and barren.
I am not sure what the stone fences were keeping in or out as we say no livestock.
Restocking for the next 10 days in the Andes we WallMart’ed in San Luis !
110kms North West of San Luis is the N.P Sierra de las Quijadas and an overnight camp amongst the red monoliths.
Tomorrow some Dinosaur tracks to follow !
Camp 370: National Park Sierra de las Quijadas
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 813 meters
S32* 29.735 W067* 00.170
Today: 203Kms
Trip Total: 114,565Km
Wednesday 9th July:
The guide was suppose to turn up at 10am for our Dinosaur footprint walk. At 10.30 we seek someone out. “In 10 minutes” is the reply. 1/2 hour later a guide turns up and says we can go at 12 midday. By this time I have lost interest !
Lets find some real mountains !
1500kms from the start of our western drive we see the Andes Mountain Range grow in the distance.
The snow caped jagged peaks a contrast to the flat desert we are currently driving.
After refuelling just north of Mendosa we start to climb towards Villavicencio.
This road looks great.
Camp 371: Road side camp at 1880 metres
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 1880 meters
S32* 31.710 W069* 00.710
Today: 286Kms
Trip Total: 114,851Km
As the sun rises the dirt road zig zags back and forth across the mountains.
Thursday 10th July:
As the sun rises Lyn is preparing Osso Bucco in the Dream Pot and I am under the vehicle chasing diesel leaks.
As 2500metres ticks by frozen waterfalls, and looking back memories of Tibet
Do you think we will see lamas?
Just as the question was asked, on the left, in front and on most ridge lines.
We are traveling the original colonial road across the Andes to Peru.
Built in the 16 Century is opened up the mineral wealth of the area.
Charles Darwin traversed this route in 1835 and discovered fossils adding further to his developing theory.
Cerro Aconcagua, at 6962m is the Western hemisphere’s highest summit.
The Andes Mountain Range is the longest in the world passing through 11 Countries on its km journey. down the West coast of Sth America.
Formed not from volcanics but from continental drift as the pacific plate pushes under the South American land mass forcing it upwards.
The land has been inhabited for over 2 million years and evidence of their occupation is found throughout the area.
The landscape is beautiful.
Last stop before camp is the Leoncito astronomical 40ton reflecting telescope. We took the all spanish speaking tour. I am sure it was interesting!
Our planned camp was in a petrified forrest field, but yet again Lonely Planet has let us down with incorrect directions.
Followed an easterly track up a creek and into the mountains. An interesting drive but no fossils.
Camp 372: Up a Creek Camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 1893 meters
S31* 40.751 W069* 25.846
Today: 209Kms
Trip Total: 115,060Km
Friday 11th July:
East of Barreal we drove most tracks that went East to try and find the Petrified forrest field without luck.
Some very interesting geological formations.
Driving scree filled creeks without roads, and backtracking when they enter gorges too narrow for the truck.
Camp 373: Just off the Road Camp North of San Juan
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 832 meters
S31* 44.475 W068* 00.867
Today: 298Kms
Trip Total: 115,0358Km