The Andes Mountains
Casa Del Lago and Lake Gutierrez faded into the distance while Mount Tronador loomed ever grander. The little rental car was in for a workout, but the main highway was good, and we rode for thirty to forty-five minutes to get to the side road into the National Park at Tronador. We paid the park entry fee, and were admitted through a gate to pursue this climb. Erek sought views of waterfalls. Each turn revealed sights more wondrous than a moment ago. We curled our way around and between scenic mountain ponds and lakes colored emerald and azure from the glacial melt.
We trekked over to Mount Tronador from Casa Del Lago in Bariloche. Marlon had tipped me off with details of the trip.
The road was paved at first in some portions, but dirt soon took over, and it was dry and dusty, and oftentimes very narrow. Other vehicles traversed too, mostly on the way up since it was early in the day. There were buses loaded with other sightseers chugging up the hill churning up larger clouds of dust. There was no place to pass, and once we got near one, we had to drop back to avoid breathing in that dust. The occasional vehicles heading downward had to find places wide enough too pass. There are no guard rails there, there are some sharp turns, and precipices, so considerable caution is in order.
It was evident that the bus and tour drivers had done it many times. They sped on without hesitation. I drove as fast as I dared, and as fast as Sandrita and Erek permitted me to. We had a lot of ground to cover.
We stopped here and there for great photos, passed a few unmarked turnoffs, and came upon the marked splitoff to the Tronador Hotel.
Tronador Hotel
That looked inviting, but our goals beckoned us from higher up. The road turned rockier as we climbed, and was clearly made from the most abundant available resource - rock. Small ridges were clipped off, and gullies were filled in to make up the now cruder roadway. The rocks were fist-sized and larger, making a cobblestone effect, except they were all loose, and they moved around under the vehicles, and often took to the air. Don't take your Mercedes here!
There was another mesa above, with a few buildings, bathrooms, a parilla, restaurant, parking and rest area. I had some grilled chorizo - yum. We stretched and refreshed, then pressed on. The road got ever rougher, and I could hear and feel the rocks hitting the bottom of the car. A considerable stream crossed the roadway, but other traffic had passed, so we would too; we just tried to stay in the shallower part. This was a road you would not continue up in normal circumstances, but this was far from normal, far from home.
We came to another area with buildings and a parking lot comprised of the same rocks, roughly hewn, and looked for the end of the road. We found it. We parked and explored this place. There was a small cafe, and a separate outbuilding with bathrooms. Rough! But better than nothing, I guess. No paper - not even in the cafe. Everything else from that point required hiking
Hiking Tronador and climbing
Climbing Tronador hiking and climbing, so off we went, I guess for perhaps an hour until we came to the end of the trail we'd chosen. I'd hoped to get closer to the glacier, but that was not going to be part of this sally. Waterfalls are always attractive, and the few signs did refer to some cascada, so we climbed and hiked to the end of this trail,
and beheld this
waterfall.
Tronador Waterfall
Our Pics here...
Esteban lakeside.
Esteban lakeside
Sandrita at lake.
Sandrita at lake
Esteban at lake.
Esteban at lake
Sandrita lakeside.
Sandrita lakeside
Erek shoots flowers.
Erek shoots flowers
Esteban streamside.
Esteban streamside