0-13200 ft

Wow what a way to get dizzy. Spend 3 days at sea level on a beach, relaxing and playing, then in less than 24 hours head up to over 13000 ft.

We had a great time at Playa Ritoque, an out of the way beach that is still 2 hours from Santiago. It was a nice break from the mountains and a great way to finish the family’s trip. Not that the water was warm but it was beautiful and so contrasting to every other place we have been. One day we went out and visited a biologist who was doing research on sea otters and we went out and looked for them. We managed to spot one, who was eating and playing in the water, and we also saw a  gaggle of blue footed boobies, which was cool..

And then sadly my lovely family left and flew back to Canada.

Jess and I then headed up to Valle Nevado, which consists of three huge ski resorts just outside of Santiago.  But upon arriving here I realized that this was not the season. I had hopes of getting acclimatized and then skiing of Cerro Plomo a 5000m  mountain that sits in the background. But alas when I saw it I knew this was not the season.

This monster was not looking white, predominantly icy, so cross that off the list.  Jess and I skied up and off Valle Nevado and summited a peak called Tres Puntas, and then she headed home. I continued exploring and headed up Cerro La Parva which was a bit of a head rush as it sits above 13000 ft, cool summit but sadly enough there really is no snow around here to fill the lines in.

I am super glad I came up here and checked this zone out but we will not stay, tomorrow we will head off and maybe back to Las Trancas for the bicentennial of Chile.

At the end of my day as I was hiking back to the hostel I witnessed a beautiful sunset. I feel that sunsets/rises are the most beautiful display of nature. Always different, so gorgeous, and so refreshing.