[ING / ESP]Un Viaje Inolvidable al Corazón de la Patagonia/ An Unforgettable Trip to the Heart of Pa

Hello, dear community! 🌟
I want to share with you the incredible adventure we lived with my partner Joha. It was quite a trip! We started the route very early, full of energy and laughter, of course with our faithful companion: a hot mate! We traveled in a Kangoo that we equipped with a stove for cooking and even a mattress. This allowed us to make fewer stops and save a little on the way, something that really becomes essential when you go south, because the prices are quite high. I recommend this idea for any trip you take!
Our adventure began in Luján, Buenos Aires, and the final destination was Lago Puelo, in the province of Chubut. We passed through the Río Turbio National Reserve, a spectacular place that has a dreamlike landscape. The river that gives its name to the reserve is surrounded by mountains and there I found the highest peaks in the province. It is impressive to see the immensity of the Three Peaks
It took us two days to get to Bariloche. And just when we arrived, it started snowing! It was like a fairy tale to see everything turning white. We take the path of the canyon of the fly, It is shocking to see those mountains covered in snow. Although I must say that, as it is a road with many curves, you have to drive very carefully.
When we arrived at Lago Puelo, some friends were waiting for us to embark to the Río Turbio Provincial Reserve. This time it was something special, since we visited our friend Cholo as a surprise, one of the first settlers of the place before it became a national park. He and his family are very loved in the area.
To get to the reserve you have to walk 17 kilometers along a path in the mountain, bordering the lake. It can't be fully appreciated in the videos, but the trail is located on the slopes of the mountains to the left, and is adorned with 25 waterfalls! You have drinking water throughout the trip, which is great.
Since it was October and winter, the waterfalls were carrying so much water that we couldn't cross. But we were very lucky, since we spoke with Adrián, Cholo's son, who was bringing supplies to Cholo. The morning he had to cross the lake was magical: the water was smooth, like a mirror. The journey took only 25 minutes. On the way, we took the opportunity to cast the rod and try to catch a salmon, but we had no luck this time.
We reached the coast, grabbed our backpacks and began walking along a path of enormous ñires and coihues. After walking for an hour, we arrived at the rocky river, a river that originates from the glaciers. We were shocked by the flood of water that was there, because the only way to reach our destination is by crossing the river on foot, at least in summer we always cross like this, But at this moment there was no chance, it was very dangerous because the river was very strong, with a current not seen before.
On top of that, to add intrigue to the adventure, we had no signal on our cell phones nor were they aware that we were going because we wanted to surprise our cholo friend whom we hadn't seen in a long time, so we had to make the decision that one had to cross the river. To let them know that we were stranded and it was my turn to be the brave one and take a risk for the team, I looked for the biggest stick I found in the forest to use as support. The water reached me past my waist, I was frozen, I felt the adrenaline throughout my body. and I admit that at times I was quite afraid but I managed to cross it with feet numb from the cold, I squeezed my socks and ran until I reached the house, what a beautiful feeling I was more alive than ever.
When I finally saw him, his surprise was incredible! I couldn't believe he was there, much less when I told him my entire odyssey to get there. We packed up the horses and oxen and headed back to the river to look for the rest of the group. It was a truly unforgettable experience. When we arrived at the house, the wood stove was lit and the aroma of home surrounded us. We sat down to enjoy some delicious mates and chat about life, of course, without forgetting the delicious southern fried cakes that we love so much!
October brings magical things to the mountains, and one of them is cypress mushroom season, also known as morels. The next day, we embarked on the adventure of searching for the cypress forest where we know these tasty mushrooms appear. We walked for two days, but we had no luck because the weather conditions were not yet suitable. Even so, we enjoyed the extraordinary forest and fauna of the reserve. On the third day, Cholo had to leave and left us taking care of the farm and the animals. We faced days of rain and cold, and we had to bring the cows down the mountain.
But, here comes the good thing! That same day, while the rain was pouring, the first mushrooms appeared! We took the cows down and waited for the weather to improve. And the next day, it was spectacuA bright and sunny day awaited us, so we began our journey towards where we already knew the mushrooms were, and finally, life presented them to us! They were beautiful and tasty, a joy for the palate!
After many happy days enjoying mushroom picking, we managed to get around 10 kilos. What an enriching experience! Our 10-day trip was a gift, sharing and living life in the mountains until we had to return to the work routine. But don't worry, we're already planning our next adventure!
A pleasure to share with you this story full of emotions. See you soon!