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Her Odyssey
  • Speaking & Engagements
  • HER ODYSSEY
    • MISSION
    • BIO & ARCHIVES
    • ROUTE RESOURCES
    • FINANCIALS
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      • Pay it Forward
      • SHOP
    • PARTNERS
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January 1, 2017January 19, 2019

Volcan Puyehue

Hear from thy heavens above, o warrior maid!
Descend once more, propitious to my aid.
The Odyssey

Written by Fidgit 11/21/2016
Haz clic aquí para leer en español

We started climbing from Ruta 215 on an overcast, drizzly morning. It began with a confrontation with a local landowner insisting that we pay 10 luka ($15 USD) each to walk the trail across his land. We conversed for about 15 minutes, and as these interactions usually go, began with a great deal of bluster, reduced to complaining about how the park service do nothing to help maintain the trails, and ended with his giving us information and his WhatsApp contact information, insisting that we let him know once we made it across.

The rest of the morning was spent climbing steeply up deeply rutted and entwining trail. Sometimes so deeply cut and washed out that the earth made walls around us. Other times we succumbed to cheating and balanced along the narrow trails along the tops of the ruts, which at some points were large and deep enough to swallow a tree whole.

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This was trail on private land, bordering national park Puyehue.

At some point we rose above the clouds, which filled the valley floor and looked out across a blanket pierced by green ridges and enthroning neighboring volcanic peaks, still laced with snow.

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Rising above the clouds
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Best of luck on your journey, Gosie and Paul!

At the refugio which sits at treeline, we met Gosie (Poland) and Paul (Germany). We sat across the meadow from one another munching on Snickers, sizing up their gear. As we walked past, we discovered they too were Greater Patagonian Trail thru-hikers. They were pack-rafting the route and had been hiking SoBo (South Bound) for about 6 weeks.

These were the first thru-hikers we had met, and for the first time, I felt a sense of on-trail community. Exchanging information such as routes ahead, weather forecasts, encounters with land proprietors, favorite footwear, talking about the route creators, Jan and Meylin, etc. It really got me jazzed and put a pep in my step as we climbed the rest of the way up toward the cone and around it.

Into the ashen flats beyond – 20 km without more vegetation than a few patches of ground cover. Strips of snow became blankets, became post holing, returned to ash. All windswept, all bereft of life. Except, oddly, tiny bugs trudging lethargically. To mate or to death, theirs was not to reason why, theirs was but to do and die. I stepped around or past them. Any life form which made it up here, to whatever end, deserves deference.

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That’s not just snow kids, that’s ash.

Across the barren flats, in the distance, were two hulking, jagged, black blankets of hardened lava. One was blacker than the other, and at some spots, still emitting plumes of smoke. This was the younger of the two lava fields, from an eruption in 2011. The same which had cast the pumice stones onto Villa la Angostura which we had passed on Lago Nahuel Huapi. This was the origin of the magical floating rocks.

We were ensconced in silence. The bleep of our GPS or crinkle of a wrapper in a pocket sounded inordinately loud then were swallowed by the surroundings. The land rolled and furrowed. Trail up here would be difficult to maintain as, without vegetation to hold it, a tiny trickle can quickly cut into a gully into a wash. When winds picked up, tiny porous rocks rolled past our feet. With each step we altered the landscape. It is hard not to think of the impact we have on the terrain we cross, be it peat bogs or lava fields.

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Neon, melting snow for water

It was fascinating that in the area closest to the lava flows, the ground was perfectly flat for several hundred meters. The drying lava loomed 30 feet tall. We ended up camping on one of the flats, tucked behind rolling hills as best we could, because I remember the stories as a kid, that volcanoes create their own weather and winds like to arise wild at night. We set up camp, melted snow for water, enjoyed an enveloping sunset and tucked in to sleep. Come 3 am, mighty gusts began ripping past. By 5 it was constant.

By 6, with nary a word but plenty of grumbling (mostly from me), we began our morning routine. Within 45 minutes, we were walking – up along a final rounded ridge. Where the two flows drew close together the land between showed through the colors of sunset, yellows and burnt orange, sulfur and iron.

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Neon, pointing to the fresher of the flows with the older one, greyer, behind her.

owl.pngDropping into a narrow corridor, about 20 feet wide, between the two lava flows was like passing through the gates of Morannon. While I was in imagination land, Neon spotted an owl sitting 3/4 of the way up one of the walls.

The lava fields reminded me of my time working on an Alaskan glacier with sled dogs. There are few smells, and those which are present are strong. So, where in Alaska it was the smell of dog, here it was the smell of sulfur. We dubbed the younger of the flows “Tootin Ted” and blamed it for all odoriferousness. Passing through another narrows we filled our water bottles from a melt pool, maneuvered around a large water depression and began the climb out of the fields.

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“Tootin’ Ted.” Neon . . . was that you or the lava field?
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Getting water from a melt pond

Immediately we noticed the return of trees in the distance – color, texture. Passing a few geysers spouting steam from rainbow ridges, we talked about Yellowstone, we talked about humans, we talked about people slipping into hot pools and being corroded by acid so there were no remains to be recovered and whether that death was truly metal or just plum foolish. We talked about whether biting off a human finger was like biting a raw carrot.

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Fidgit watching the geysers

Down into the trees where trail became clear. Down past where snow seceded to foliage and became streams. Where ash became pebbles became stones became rocks again, looking nothing in color or texture like what we had just crossed. Where trail became roAd (our word for the abandoned, impassable by [most] vehicles 2 track paths).

Down where a quick fence hop put us back on gravel, rural roads. Terrain that is hard on the feet and mind, but where we can really tick off the kilometers discussing planning, where we want to take this project, and how and what we need to do to keep communication open, priorities clear, and how to best share it with you.

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, you are among our most committed followers, and we would love to hear ideas of what you’d like to hear and see to better bring you along out here with us?


Volcan Puyehue

Escrito por Fidgit
Traduccion por Henry Tovar

¡Oye de tus cielos arriba, o sirvienta guerrera!
Descended una vez más, propicio a mi ayuda.
La Odisea

Comenzamos a subir desde la Ruta 215 en una mañana soleada y lluviosa. Comenzó con una confrontación con un terrateniente local insistiendo en que pagamos 10 luka ($ 15 USD) cada uno para caminar el sendero a través de su tierra. Conversamos durante unos 15 minutos, y cómo estas interacciones suelen ir, comenzó con una gran dosis de fanfarronería, Reducido a quejarse de cómo el servicio del parque no hacer nada para ayudar a mantener los senderos, y terminó con su darnos información y su información de contacto de WhatsApp, insistiendo en que le hagamos saber una vez que lo cruzamos.
El resto de la mañana se pasó subiendo abruptamente hasta el sendero profundamente emocionado y entrelazado. A veces tan profundamente cortado y lavado que la tierra hizo paredes alrededor de nosotros. Otras veces sucumbimos a la trampa y equilibrado a lo largo de los estrechos senderos a lo largo de las cumbres de las acanaladuras,Que en algunos puntos eran grandes y lo suficientemente profundos para tragar un árbol entero
.

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Era un sendero en tierra privada, bordeando el parque nacional Puyehue

En algún momento nos levantamos por encima de las nubes, que llenaban el fondo del valle y miraban a través de una manta atravesada por crestas verdes y entronizando en los picos volcánicos vecinos, todavía atados de nieve.

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Levantandose sobre las nubes
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Buena suerte en tu viaje, Gosie y Paul!

En el refugio que se sienta en treeline, nos encontramos con Gosie (Polonia) y Paul (Alemania). Nos sentamos en la pradera de unos a otros comiendo Snickers, midiendo su equipo. Mientras caminábamos, descubrimos que también eran el Gran Camino Patagónico a través de los excursionistas. Ellos estaban haciendo rafting en la ruta y había estado caminando SoBo (South Bound) durante unas 6 semanas.
Éstos fueron los primeros a través de los excursionistas que habíamos conocido, y por primera vez, sentí una sensación de comunidad en el camino. Intercambio de información como rutas por delante, pronósticos meteorológicos, encuentros con propietarios de terrenos, calzado favorito, hablar de los creadores de rutas, Jan y Meylin, etc. Realmente me entusiasmó y puse un pep en mi paso mientras subíamos el resto del camino Hacia el cono y alrededor de él.
En los pisos cenicientos más allá – 20 km sin más vegetación que algunos parches de cubierta de tierra. Las tiras de nieve se convirtieron en mantas, se convirtieron en postes, volvieron a la ceniza. Todos azotados por el viento, todos privados de la vida. Excepto, extrañamente, bichos minúsculos caminando letárgica mente. Para aparearse o para morir, el suyo no era para razonar por qué, el suyo era sino para hacer y morir. Me di la vuelta o pasar por ellos. Cualquier forma de vida que lo haya hecho aquí, a cualquier fin, merece deferencia.

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Eso no son solo ninos de nieve, eso es ceniza.

A lo lejos, a lo lejos, había dos cobijas negras y escarpadas de lava endurecida. Uno era más negro que el otro, y en algunos lugares, todavía emitían columnas de humo. Éste era el más joven de los dos campos de lava, de una erupción en 2011. El mismo que había echado las piedras pómez sobre Villa la Angostura que habíamos pasado en Lago Nahuel Huapi. Este fue el origen de las mágicas rocas flotantes.
Estábamos escondidos en silencio. El pitido de nuestro GPS o arruga de una envoltura en un bolsillo sonaba desmesuradamente fuerte entonces fueron tragados por el entorno. La tierra rodó y surcó. Rastrear aquí sería difícil de mantener ya que, sin vegetación para sostenerlo, un pequeño chorro puede cortar rápidamente en un barranco en un lavado. Cuando los vientos recogidos, las rocas porosas minúsculas rodaron más allá de nuestros pies. Con cada paso alteramos el paisaje. Es difícil no pensar en el impacto que tenemos en el terreno que atravesamos, ya sean turberas o campos de lava.

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Neon, nieve de fusion para el agua

Era fascinante que en la zona más cercana a los flujos de lava, el suelo estuviera perfectamente plano durante varios cientos de metros. La lava de secado asomaba a 30 pies de altura. Acabamos acampando en uno de los pisos, escondido detrás de las colinas lo mejor que pudimos, porque recuerdo las historias de niño, que los volcanes crean su propio clima y los vientos como para surgir salvaje por la noche. Montamos el campamento, derretimos la nieve para el agua, disfrutamos de una puesta de sol envolvente y metimos en dormir. Llegamos a las 3 de la madrugada. Por 5 era constante.
A las 6, con una sola palabra pero un montón de quejas (sobre todo de mí), comenzamos nuestra rutina de la mañana. Dentro de 45 minutos, estábamos caminando – arriba a lo largo de una cresta redondeada final. Donde los dos flujos se acercaban la tierra entre los mostrados a través de los colores de la puesta del sol, los amarillos y el naranja quemado, el azufre y el hierro.

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Neon, senalando el mas fresco de los flujos con el mas viejo, mas gris, detras de ella.

owl.pngAl caer en un corredor estrecho, de unos 20 pies de ancho, entre los dos flujos de lava era como atravesar las puertas de Morannon. Mientras estaba en la tierra de la imaginación, Neon vio una lechuza sentado 3/4 del camino hasta una de las paredes.
Los campos de lava me recordaron mi tiempo trabajando en un glaciar de Alaska con perros de trineo. Hay pocos olores, y los que están presentes son fuertes. Así que, donde en Alaska era el olor a perro, aquí estaba el olor a azufre. Hemos llamado el más joven de los flujos “Tootin Ted” y lo culpó por toda la odorización. Pasando a través de otra se estrecha llenamos nuestras botellas de agua de una piscina de fusión, maniobramos alrededor de una depresión de agua grande y comenzó la subida de los campos.

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“Tootin’ Ted.” Neon . . . fue que usted o el campo de lava?
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Obtencion de agua de un estanque de fusion

Inmediatamente nos dimos cuenta del regreso de los árboles a la distancia – color, textura. Pasando unos cuantos géiseres saliendo de las crestas del arco iris, hablamos de Yellowstone, hablamos de seres humanos, hablamos de personas que se deslizaban en piscinas calientes y estaban corroídas por ácido, por lo que no había restos por recuperar y si esa muerte era verdaderamente metálica o simplemente Ciruela tonta Hablamos de si morder un dedo humano era como morder una zanahoria cruda.

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Fidgit observando los geiseres

Abajo en los árboles donde el rastro se hizo claro. Abajo donde la nieve se secaba al follaje y se convertía en arroyos. Donde las cenizas se convirtieron en guijarros, las piedras se convirtieron en piedras nuevamente, sin mirar nada en color o textura como lo que acabamos de cruzar. Donde el rastro se hizo roAd (nuestra palabra para el abandonado, intransitable por [la mayoría] vehículos 2 caminos de la pista).
Abajo donde un salto rápido de la cerca nos puso de nuevo en la grava, caminos rurales. Terreno que es duro en los pies y en la mente, pero en el que realmente podemos marcar los kilómetros de planificación, dónde queremos llevar este proyecto y cómo y qué debemos hacer para mantener la comunicación abierta, las prioridades claras y la mejor forma de hacerlo. Compartirlo con usted.
Si has llegado al final de este post, estás entre nuestros seguidores más comprometidos, y nos encantaría oír ideas de lo que te gustaría oír y ver para traerte mejor aquí con nosotros?

Posted in En Español, Fidgit, Her Odyssey, Patagonia Thru-Hike
Tagged Backpacking, Greater Patagonia Trail, hiking volcanoes
7 Comments
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Comments (7)

  • cliff rawley January 1, 2017 at 8:33 pm Reply

    What amazing adventures you all have! You write so well and describe everything so accurately! It is like reading National Geographic magazine! Be careful!

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  • Will Keyworth January 2, 2017 at 6:03 am Reply

    incredible. i love how aware and gentle you are with your surroundings. i love the smell of sulfur in volcanic areas. i call it the ‘breath of the Mother” 😉 the pics are great!! as usual…i did notice that they aren’t clickable to make into larger view. you probably don’t have a whole lot of bandwidth to upload hi-res images, though, so completely understand…maybe one or two of the more dramatic ones? so cool to see the hills with ash and snow. looking forward to reading more. you both have a command of the language that’s quite refreshing in a world that seems to be tossing good use of grammar and spelling…

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  • marva weigelt January 2, 2017 at 8:43 am Reply

    So vivid and gritty and odiferous! Thank you for how your keen observation and lively language give us a front row seat!

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  • Jackie January 2, 2017 at 9:53 am Reply

    Wow! Wonderfully written! Thanks for taking us along with you 🙂

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  • Kathy A January 2, 2017 at 2:54 pm Reply

    I read every word you write. I have felt like I am with you all the way. Be Safe!

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  • Roland Gande January 2, 2017 at 4:06 pm Reply

    Read it to the end! 😉 And to be honest – read it several times (-> non-native speaker learns many new words which is a great challenge I really enjoy). Please keep on posting these wonderful reports although I know that it is much more work (or fun?) than one expects. Reading about your adventures inspires me to feel “I need to go after a longer break”. Thank you for that! Have fun and take care!

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  • rangerskye January 18, 2017 at 12:44 pm Reply

    More of the same!

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@nolsedu WFR recertification @nolsedu WFR recertification
Attending the very first CWW led 'Packraft Soiree' Attending the very first CWW led 'Packraft Soiree' 2023 on the North Fork American River was a blast!

Big gratitude to all the folks and brands out there making it happen!
A few who've buoyed my water dabbling:
 @alpacka_raft @hyperlite_mountain_gear @sawyerproducts @astralfootwear @sweetprotection
A healer told me to go find big rocks. Loved ones A healer told me to go find big rocks. 
Loved ones've been telling me to seek joy. 
I've been craving time in water.

So gathered some rockstars, and in we went.
I am beyond stoked to be speaking at this year's @ I am beyond stoked to be speaking at this year's @aldhawest Gathering! Sharing stories and precepts of Slow Travel, distilled from Her Odyssey and a life abroad. 🌎

Bringing it first to the thru-hiking community who expand horizons and honor markers such as the prestigious Triple Crown Ceremony, will make for a lively community event! You should probably follow their page to keep up as they announce the rich variety of presenters I've been hearing whispers about. 
🤫 📣

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Can't wait to see you there! 
 
~Fidgit 💚 
 
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1/5 *THE FIRST WOMAN TO WALK THE LENGTH OF THE AME 1/5
*THE FIRST WOMAN TO WALK THE LENGTH OF THE AMERICAS: 
MARGUERITE GEIST* 

To conclude this digital account of Her Odyssey, I would like to share the earliest record I’ve found of a modern person walking the length of the Americas. Circa ~1920S

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🌲 HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY💐

Words by @drsuzannesimard
#findingthemothertree

". . .  we know Mother Trees can truly nurture their offspring. Douglas firs, it turns out, recognize their kin and distinguish them from other families and different species. They communicate and send carbon, the building block of life, not just to the mycorrhizas of their kin but to other members of the community. To help keep it whole. They appear to relate to their offspring as do mothers passing their best recipes to their daughters. Conveying their life energy, their wisdom, to carry life forward." 

 -From the book 'Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest'

I will always treasure hiking into Machu Picchu with my mom in 2017. 💚
#herodyssey 

Bonus young mom/childhood #throwbackpic of the Hughes (Fidgít's  fam)
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