Camp Tres Cruces Chile

After pulling into our first camping stop during the acclimatization process, we didn't need to camp much at all!  There is actually a little house (refugio) here.  It was too dark last night, so below are the early morning photos while the boys are still sleeping.

I'm an early riser anyway, but the elevation headache has got me pretty good this morning.  Gee whiz, aspirin anyone??

Parque Nacional Nevado de Tres Cruces

Besides, I was so excited from what I saw last night, I couldn't wait to have a wander in the morning with my camera. We're going to be here for 2 or 3 days.  I know the boys will sleep in a bit.  They have been working hard since the moment they arrived from overseas.  I'll be back soon enough to put the kettle on for them.

I liked this photo from the still water. Without the reflection of the house, I'd nearly think it's just dirt to walk across as well.

Anyway, the refugio is just that.  A little refuge for people so far from civilization who need it (or want it) if it's available.  Door open, no fees, but we do have permission from the park authorities in Copiapo.

Just a building, nothing inside.  There are 4 rooms, one I used for the kitchen and the other ones we sorted out for sleeping. 

My room. I used my normal tent floor to cover up the dirty mattress.  Along with my sleeping bag, it was quite a comfortable place.. Cold, but comfortable.  I was quite happy about staying here!

I'd show you Walter and Lukas's space, but I better not.  Don't want to embarrass them... ;-) Barton stayed outside in his new red tent.  He thought we were crazy for sleeping under a roof.  I get his point, but this has it's pluses too.  We have plenty more opportunities for the tents coming up.

My little kitchen.  Three of us have cook stoves we carry for camping.  We bought a big pot at the supermarket, so I can make loads of hot water, for tea, Milo and hot porridge each morning.

The view out the front door.. LOVE IT HERE!!

There are flamingos everywhere. I've always thought of flamingos as a warm weather bird.  We saw heaps of them in the Galapagos. I didn't expect to see them here at 3700 cold meters! (12,140 ft)

Better get back to see if any movement in camp. I don't want to get fired from my day job.. I must have wandered over an hour, but I'm safe. Not a sound from any of them yet.

Once the boys did get up, it was time to play with the bikes.  They've done a lot of work preparing the bikes already, but they have many more things to do.  I'm not technically minded, so if I try to explain what they are doing to alter their bikes for high elevation, I'll get it wrong.  Besides alterations, they are just setting up their new bikes in general.  Everyone has a different idea of how to make the bike their own.

I'm busy in my little refugio sorting out all the food we bought.  Everthing was still in boxes and grocery bags, and I wanted it organized.  Breakfast food, lunch food, dinner and snacks.

Then I counted and wrote down everything I have so I can keep track of it.  I have no experience in keeping an expedition fed, but I will soon!  And I want to make sure it's all sorted (minus all the tins of tuna for Lukas.. ha!)  For instance, the first night I made pasta and heated up a bag of that pre-made pasta sauce (ick). It turned out one bag was not enough to feed 4 people.  When a packet says "serves 4" it should be more specific.  Two adults and two children?  More like four little children?  I have 3 hungry men!

Every now and then I'd peek out the front door and LOVED watching the weather change.  The colors are amazing here.

The next day is another beautiful day in the Chilean Andes.. and more bike works..

Laguna Santa Rosa, Chile

I've learned the weather here seems to have a pattern.  Morning is clear. Early afternoon is the warm bit where you don't need to wear a jacket for a while. But the late afternoon seems to muster up clouds along with rain, wind and snow.

Walter doesn't mind the oncoming weather. He keeps tinkering away at whatever needs tinkering..

Another morning and a beautiful view of the snow that last nights little dark cloud storm left behind.

I've put my foot down and being the 4th day since I last washed my hair, I'm ready to do the arctic dip.

This is my bath 'tub'.  The boys told me where to find it.  I waited until after they were fed, dishes clean and gave the sun time to warm the little pool up.  Then with a little warning, "do not come down to the lake for a few minutes.. "  I managed to get clean.  It was actually very nice!  Yes, cold.  But once I was used to it, I loved it!  And how could you complain about taking a bath in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.  I would be one of only a few who ever have or ever will in this place. I actually feel really honored to take a bath here.

You know what was in that pool?  Lots of tiny little shrimps.  Really cute to watch.  Now I know why the flamingos are here...

I started walking back to the refugio when I spotted something.  It's a vicuna that was actually really near my little bath.  Heck!  He/she doesn't seem fussed I'm here!  At the time I didn't know if it was alpaca or llama.  It's neither.  Vicuna is actually a member of the camel family.

In the 1970's they had been hunted and the population sunk to around 500.  Since they have been protected, they have bounced back.  And lucky for me in 2012, I see one right close to my bath.  It didn't have much fear and let me get quite close for a photo which I needed as I'm only carrying my little point and shoot.

What a little sweetheart.  And with the flamingos and ducks in the background, this place is pure magic. ;-))

Arriving back to camp.. and being teased.  "Hey SJ, we got photos of you with the zoom lens.."  Aw, bugger..  ;-/

Tomorrow we pack up and head for camp #2 at a higher elevation.  You can't see it in the photos, but we all had big head aches. However the longer we were here, they subsided quite a bit. Taking pain relief medicine is one thing, but the real trick is drinking as much water as possible.  This really works, however we are still in the beginning stages and need to be careful at the same time with the amount of water we drink so it lasts. 

Riding from Copiapo to Tres Cruces - First camp for acclimatization with the Husaberg Adventure Team

After spending one night in Copiapo, and while the boys were paying their fees for parks and permits, I did an ice cream run.  It is so hot, and the ice cream shop was a surprisingly good find.  Seriously... it was impossible to find a decent meal for lunch or dinner.  Not a green vegetable in town. But good ice cream will suffice!  So good they sent me back for a second set of ice cream cones.

We are still in the Atacama Desert, a desert which hasn't seen rain in many parts for over 400 years.  We'll be leaving town heading east toward the border of Argentina.

The road was a smooth pave for a while and then it started to get a bit rough, albeit paved.

Following the boys there is one that stands out.  There is music going on in his helmet and he is bopping the head while playing air guitar so hard, I swear he's going to loose the bike.  That would be Walter.  I recognize the head bop from our days riding together in Russia.. But the gigantic air guitar and even drums sometimes is a new addition.  I hope that little video camera they attached to the hood of my truck catches some of that.

About 120 km down the road and with only 8 litres of gas on each bike, it's not long before the first fuel stop. When there are no fuel stations around, Sherri Jo's truck becomes the fuel stop! I think I could use a support vehicle on the rest of my journey, they are so handy! ;-)))

I'm letting the boys refuel themselves American style.  Self-service. ;-)  Some support vehicle I am!!

It's so weird being on 4 wheels instead of 2.  Especially when my friends around me are still on 2.  I have to admit I get a bit jealous. However.. I am LOVING the air conditioner and radio.  Change is good sometimes.

It's only when I get close to them that I can take photos.  As mentioned, on the take off, the truck is so incredibly slow.  I do take it at high speed in 4th and 5th. Not to be rough on it, but the contrary.  It nearly glides over the ridges and bumps of this rough road at a higher speed even while being totally weighted down. I didn't expect that.  I would have expected it to break to pieces.  And it is better to know that they are well ahead of me and out of my way.  I'm trying to take care of it as much as I can. It is a rental truck.. There are no other roads out here to miss a turn and I'll see them the next time they need something.

Well, actually there is a turn off.  The first one I've seen and it was already known as an option from their planning. The boys pulled over to make a decision as well as make sure I saw which way they would go (I do not have a gps).  The right turn means we have far less kilometers, but it's a dirt track and a pretty rough one from what they can tell from google earth.  The decision is not so much for them.. they are on the best bikes for the roughest road you can come up with.  The decision is whether I can make it up hill in sand and rubble with God knows how much weight in gear, water and fuel.  The other route is longer but a lot of it continues to be paved.  Not like good paved, but at least a bit more solid than sand.

There was no question really.  As much as we want to make the 'smart' decision, boys will be boys. They are so excited to get into the dirt.  We'll tackle the truck issues when and if they arrive.  I'm personally not fussed one way or the other.  If there is anything I know, these are the guys you want around no matter what happens and I have nothing to worry about.

Dag gone it, it's still somewhat paved.. what will they do?

This is what they did, and I was laughing so hard in the truck when I saw it.

The road did turn to gravel shortly after, but I was glad to see them getting some of their off road motorcycling steam out of their system.  But keep in mind, they have to accomplish a world record shortly with these bikes, so try not to break anything?

These guys are dressed like identical triplets on three completely identical bikes, and I haven't got my head around being able to tell who is who unless they actually speak to me.  However on this stop I paid closer attention.  Just like true identical triplets, there is always one little thing that helps you know which one you are talking to. There are two things they wear that are not identical.  Boots and goggles.  While listening to them I noticed that Lukas has orange goggles (he is Austrian and they are his ski goggles)  And Barton had recently bought these super good looking and expensive Oakley goggles.  I thought they were so good looking I would consider changing my helmet out so I could wear these same kind of Oakley goggles someday.  Oh well.  I looked down at their boots and I noticed out of the three, Lukas wears white boots. The others have black.  So I can only tell who I see from a distance by boots or air guitar.  Up close I determine by goggles.

The sun is getting a bit low.  I couldn't believe there are people living out here. It surprised me so much that I wanted to take a photo of it.  We are so far from town now. 

While I've got the truck stopped for a moment, I like to do a quick walk around and see if the tie downs are tight, or even worse, to see if I've lost anything yet.

Coming up over a ridge the boys are stopped.  No doubt why!  Look at the view! Who is coming to my truck window? Who is that???? C'mon, I thought you sorted that out! Ah, Walter.. paying attention now to his red zebra-like goggles.  I was only with Lukas and Barton last time I studied goggles.

He wanted to take a photo.  For freaks' sake!  Who turned the cold air on!  I know we've come up hill a bit over the last hour or so, but we just went from summer to winter.  We had ice cream at lunch, and now I'm scrambling for anything warm I can find.

Anyway, check out our VIEW.......

Walter got a photo of me.. freezing..

I got a photo of Lukas which I think should be entered into the Husaberg Adventure Team calendar..Ha! What a look!

Back into the truck and Walter holds back and points out to me that the lake in the distance is our goal destination for the night.  Perfect timing.  I'd like to set up camp before the sun goes completely down.  But I have to admit, this is one of THE prettiest places I have EVER been on the planet.  Breathtaking.

Walter got a shot of me driving away..

And this would be Bartons photo of us arriving camp a few minutes later.

This planned stop and goal is to stay here in Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces, which is 3700 meters (12,140 feet) above sea level for a couple days as part of the acclimatization process.  We will move up slowly to 2 more camps each higher in elevation before they will be able to begin the world record attempt later.  For now.. just soaking up the beauty of being in the middle of "nowhere".  I don't want to say nowhere, it is somewhere really cool...  Ciao!