Backpacking in the Patagonian Andes - Sat, Dec 1 2012, Sun, Dec 2 2012, Mon, Dec 3 2012, Tue, Dec 4 2012, Wed, Dec 5 2012, Thu, Dec 6 2012, Fri, Dec 7 2012, Sat, Dec 8 2012, Sun, Dec 9 2012

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed by the trip leader(s) and NOT the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for payment details and instructions.



Backpacking in the Patagonian Andes


The Basics:
Event Type:Backpacking
Event Location: Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, near San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina   Backpacking: Backpacking in the Patagonian Andes  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Dec 1 2012, Sun, Dec 2 2012, Mon, Dec 3 2012, Tue, Dec 4 2012, Wed, Dec 5 2012, Thu, Dec 6 2012, Fri, Dec 7 2012, Sat, Dec 8 2012, Sun, Dec 9 2012  10:00 am >> Sun, Dec 9 2012 10:26 am
Registration Opens: Wed, Apr 11 2012 5:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Sun, Apr 1 2012 10:26 am
Event Duration:8 Days 26 Minutes
Difficulty Rating:D6: Advanced
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Richard A. Zalik
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Member Cost:$720.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:24
Minimum Group Size:7
Number Registered So Far: 7 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
Day 1: Departure from Atlanta.
Day 2: Arrive at Ministro Pistarini (Ezeiza) International Airport in Buenos Aires. (Airport code: EZE.) Take shuttle bus to Aeroparque (AEP),  where our domestic flight to San Carlos de Bariloche (BAR). departs. Note: there are a few flights directly from EZE to BAR. Arrive in Bariloche around noon.  In the afternoon go on a sightseeing tour. Lodging in three star hotel. Dinner in town. Meet with our guide. Pay for the event.
Pics from sightseeing tour: 
https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/CerroCampanarioAndHotelLlaoLlao
Day 3: Early in the morning drive to Refugio Neumeyer (4335 ft), which is in the middle of a forest, and from there attempt to reach the summit of Cerro Challhuaco (6950ft). This is not a technical climb. Whether we reach the summit will depend on weather conditions. We will have lunch on the way up the mountain. We will travel to Refugio Neumeyer in all terrain vehicles. Because of the season (late spring in the Southern hemisphere) and the altitude, there may be snow on the ground and we may have to wear snowshoes. After (hopefully) reaching the summit we will return to Refugio Neumeyer, warm up, have a snack, and return to Bariloche. Dinner in town. Lodging in the hotel.
Pics: https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/Challuaco
Day 4: In the morning drive to the foot of Cerro Catedral. We will start walking at a height of about 3,500ft. After a few miles we will stop for lunch and then follow Arroyo Van Titter upstream to Refugio Frei (5820 ft), where we will have dinner and spend the night. Walking time: about six hours. From Refugio Neumeyer onwards we will be wearing either snowshoes or crampons, depending on the type of snow we encounter.
Pics: https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/VillaCatedralToRefugioFrei
https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/RefugioFrey
Day 5: After breakfast we will ascend to the so called "soccer field" (6,360 ft), which is a flat area at the top of a ridge. After admiring the view from the top we will descend to the Rucaco Valley (4,730 ft), where we will have lunch. After crossing the valley and fording Arroyo Rucaco we will ascend to Cerro Brecha Negra's ridge at 6,850 ft. From there we will descend to Refugio Jakob (5,320 ft), which is on the shore of the lagoon by the same name. Here we will have dinner and spend the night.
Pics: https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/RefugioFreiToRefugioJacob
https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/RefugioFreiToRefugioJakob2
Day 6: This day we will spend exploring the neighborhood: we can go to Laguna Los Tempanos(5,820 ft), where we can admire a 2,000 ft tall ice wall and icebergs floating on the lagoon, Schweitzer pass (5,650 ft), or try to reach the summit of Cerro Cella (7,000 ft). We return to Refugio Jakob, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
Pics: https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/LagunaDeLosTempanosPasoSchweitzer
Day 7: After breakfast we will follow Arroyo Casa de Piedra 11 miles downstream to a road where vans will be waiting to take us back to Bariloche. Dinner in town, lodging in the hotel.
Pics: https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/DescentFromRefugioJakob
Overview: Here are some pics from days 4 through 7, plus some pics from Cerro Tronador:
 https://picasaweb.google.com/zalikri/BarilocheNovember2005#
Day 8: Return to Buenos Aires in the morning. Fly to Atlanta in the evening.
Day 9: Arrive in Atlanta.
NOTES:
This itinerary is subject to change based on weather conditions.
The refugios are fully staffed cabins with bunk beds and hard mattresses. If you prefer to prepare your own food, you can bring your supplies from Bariloche and use the shelter's wood burning stove for a small fee.

Required Items to Bring:
Clothing: Long johns - 2 pairs of trousers - 2 pairs of woolen socks and 2 pairs of sock liners - 3 sets of underwear - Hiking boots (waterproof) - sandals or booties for indoors - 3 t-shirts - 2 sweaters - Waterproof parka - Waterproof pant covers - gaiters - 1 pair of woolen gloves or mittens - 1 pair of waterproof gloves or 1 pair of waterproof glove covers - balaclava - Sun hat - Sleeping bag (rated 20 to 32 degrees F) - Sunglasses - Woolen hat

Toiletries: Toilet paper and paper tissues - Toothpaste and toothbrush - Deodorant - glycerine soap or detergent - Lip balm

Equipment:: Backpack (minimum size: 50 liters). - Backpack cover or two large trash bags - Water bottle - Head lamp and batteries - Sunglasses (important!) - Thermos - Trekking poles

Miscellaneous: Camera - Plastic bags for clothing and garbage - Personal First-aid kit - Sunblock (at least SPF 30) - Penknife - Pencil and paper - Lighter (can be purchased in Bariloche)		Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Notes:
Payment Schedule:
1. A deposit of $100.00 into the organizer's PayPal account must be received by November 3.  After November 5 this deposit is  nonrefundable
2. You will pay for your lodging at check-in. Credit cards may be used.
3. You will pay for your trip (less your deposit) in Bariloche. Payment must be in cash in US dollars.

Registration Requirements.
To participate in this event you must be either an AOC trip leader or be recommended by an AOC trip leader. If you wish to participate in this event you must place yourself on the waiting list. Once I verify you satisfy the requirements, I will move you to the list of participants.

You may want to arrive in Buenos Aires a couple of days early and spend some time exploring this beautiful and sophisticated city. The organizer can arrange for lodging in a two star hotel in a nice section of town for about $45 a night per person for double occupancy and $85 a night per person for single occupancy. Transportation from EZE to the hotel and from the hotel to AEP will cost around $90. Credit cards may be used both for the hotel and for transportation.

- All prices quoted in this event description are in US dollars.
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Member Cost:$720.00/Person
Cost Includes:-All transportation to and from our hotel in Bariloche (including transportation to and from the airport) in either vans or all-terrain vehicles, according to need.
-Lodging in the shelters.
-All meals and snacks while on the trails and in the shelters.
-Licensed guide and insurance (these are requirements of the park  authorities).

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
-Airfare (Atlanta to Bariloche and return, changing planes in Buenos Aires).
-Shuttle bus between airports in Buenos Aires (around $15.00 each way).
-Lodging in a three star hotel in Bariloche for three nights at around $50 a night. Price is per person for double occupancy and includes continental breakfast.
-Beverages.
-Meals in transit to Bariloche.
-Meals while in Bariloche, except for continental breakfast in the hotel.
-Snowshoe rental ($15 a day) and/or (crampon rental ($ 10 a day)  as needed.
-US passport holders do not need a visa to enter Argentina, but must pay a tax of around $150 to enter the country. This tax is valid for multiple entries.  You pay this fee at the airport. Credit cards may be used.

The event cost of $720 is based on a minimum of 7 participants. If the number of participants is less than 7 the price will increase. For example, for 5 participants the event cost will be $945.

Estimate the total cost of this trip, including airfare, lodging in hotels, event cost, etc, at around $4,000.


Make a Payment:Although there is a cost for this event, you do not pay through the AOC. Please review the event details carefully for information about how/where to make your payment.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.