I have always wanted to go, I knew there was adventure to be had there, and I’m not one to dismiss a dream. I find a way. Patagonia has always called to me. Its endless rough mountains resting below checked marked angular white clouds in an emerald blue sea. I’ve never been more jealous of a bird in my life. Do you know what I knew I’d love most about Patagonia? Beyond its wonderful people, its beautiful nature. The vast unforgiving emptiness. A person can get lost here, and I’m all for it. At times I got a glimpse of it even though I was surrounded. It was out there, and in its great presence I became absent.
I started my adventure early with a dear friend and long-time running buddy Austin Gros. I needed to get an idea of the terrain before the others arrived. I also wanted a little of this place on my own terms, but don’t tell my wife. We arrived at our hotel; our room with a view overlooking Nahuel Huapi Lake. It was a room played out for a lovers retreat in paradise, but Austin and I had much dirtier ideas to attend
Over a coffee and beer, we reviewed Gaia maps. Where to we wondered? We wanted something new that the group was not going to do but on the same terrain. We found our route, and first we asked the hotel receptionist who informed us we would pretty much die if we went. “Besides its closed now” he stated. Luckily, we got a second opinion and asked our local guides if it was okay, we got small warnings of its difficulty but overall, they agreed it should be doable. Afterall how hard can 10 miles be? Right?
Cerro Tronador to Refugio Lopez. Hell of a route. It started out innocent enough, it always does. But within a mile we were taking unforgiving risk. My whole life I have always had an issue with heights. They didn’t call me Hang Dog Hardin for nothing in my climbing days. I have come to deal with my fears but it always takes time to manage them and not hinder performance. Because when you become fearful is when we start making mistakes, and in the mountains, mistakes can cost you a lot. I knew this and informed Austin. “Sorry, but it’s going to take me a little time. Once I adjust, it’ll fade away.” With no rhyme or recipe to when the fear would click off in my head I continued, shakey hands and anxiety of Austin near cliffs and all. During the trip we faced steep drop offs, sheer loose rock valleys that dropped off into an abyss, and rock climbing on a sketchy rope that I did not trust but Austin leaned back into and pulled himself up on. I was reminded that imagination of outcomes has kept me safe but also hinders me. With each new challenge before us I always asked can we do this, we always did. Each turned corner presented its own challenges. A theme that would play out in the adventures to come. But old Austin and I got it done and by the top of the course we were in heaven.
From our view at the top we overlooked the Refugio to come. We shared out spot with what looked to be some Scandinavians. It was just ahead of us or so we thought. We started our down-climb and shortly heard loud rocks being pushed off the cliffs above us. It was the people on the top, seems they were getting great amusement from who could push the largest bolder off the cliff. I’m just glad we had passed before they started doing this. I was also a little bothered as it was a reckless act. Regardless we pressed on. Route finding down drop offs, and crawling out of steep water run off cliffs, it was two hours and some change later when we arrived at Refugio Lopez. I sat in the sun a smile upon my face, I looked over and Austin was glowing. I could see the mana pouring off him, the man was surfing the endorphin waves. With ear-to-ear grins, I knew: this trip was going to be legendary. I was right…
