After some miles on the barest track, our van pulled up at a spot overlooking the canyon. Claudio had already explained that we had the option of doing the 5k "trek" or could simply ride on to the Cave of Hands in the van. Vicki wisely opted for the latter. The descent into the canyon was steep and covered in sand and gravel. Not good for an alumna of the Center for Total Joint Replacement. I carried on, failing to realize that a decent into the canyon likely meant an ascent out of it. But it was a great hike. Jan. 28.
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| Overlooking Pinturas Canyon |
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| As the trail descends, the van departs |
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| The canyon |
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| A thyme bush |
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Below, a small herd of guanaco crosses the canyon floor (click
to enlarge) |
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| We press on |
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| Watched closely by the vultures |
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On the canyon floor, a habitation traditionally occupied by just
one gaucho; the whole empanada is being returned to nature
prior to joining the national park |
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| Darwin's rose, someone said; but it doesn't look like a rose...? |
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| Survival of the nastiest: a pine cone with thorns...nasty ones |
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| Not messing with this |
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A solitary hiker in the canyon; turns out she was an English
teacher in a private elementary school in Puerto Varas, headed
for the same cave tour we were on |
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| Canyon outwash |
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| A guanaco footprint |
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Calafate berries (box leaf barberry); eat one, they say, and you
will return to Patagonia; they look and taste a bit like
blueberries (never mind the nasty thistles); a bit; they are
loaded with seeds; if you return to Patagonia, it will not be
to eat more calafate berries |
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| A whole nasty bush of them |
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| Returning to nature |
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| Thistle and butterfly |
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| Basic signage |
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| Rio Pinturas |
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| Fish and canyon walls |
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| In the distance, the Cave of Hands |
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| The whole complex...visitor center on right |
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| A group on the catwalk by the paintings |
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Huffing and puffing,, I am the last to emerge from the canyon
and to join the tour |
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