Into the Mountains

I leave tomorrow on my first trek, a three-day ride to Rio Blanco. So instead of leading a half-day ride today, I worked with Alejandra to prepare the gear and food. I’ll ride with Luis, who will come as our horse whisperer, and six tourists, two each from Austria, Spain and England. Each rider brings a sleeping bag and mat and we sleep two to a tent. On top of that we carry most of the food we need (some bread and salad we’ll buy from farmers at our campsites), pots, pans, a teapot, utensils, ponchos, and the machete. All horses wear saddle bags which hang at their sides behind the riders’ legs, and usually they also carry sacks with all the sleeping gear. For my trip however, we’ll bring a pack horse, which relieves all horses of some weight. Even though we’re trekking, we eat well. Dinners will be quinoa with chicken and veggies; asado (roast meat) with potatoes and salad; and finally, pasta with soup and salad. Granola, fresh bread, cheese, jam, salami, butter and honey serves as our breakfast and midday snack. After dinner, we share wine and pisco sour, which is a delicious, tangy liquor from this region.

Luis will carry the machete and the bulk of his job consists of finding and clearing the trail. I go to teach and assist the riders, cook, and translate the few words of advice Luis. I suppose we draw a line between soft and hard skills- I deal with the riders and he with the horses. The only trek I did two years ago was with Luis as well, and it was a mostly silent five days we spent together. But this time I’m looking forward to guiding with him. Carmen, who doesn’t let distant people keep her from befriending them, has taught me a few tricks about cracking his pride and aura of mystery. He even pointed at me and said, “ella trabaja bien” yesterday as I trimmed hooves, which means, “she works well.” It’s the highest praise I’ve ever heard him give a girl, or anyone for that matter.

After a ride in the morning to make sure all rides fit well with their horses, we’ll load up the gear and drive forty five minutes northwest to Laguna Huife, which locals simply call Laguna Gepinghue, after the owner’s name. There we’ll make camp, eat and spend our first night. In the morning we head toward Rio Blanco which is a campsite with natural hot springs which are wonderful after a day on horseback. The third day’s ride I know, having done it two years ago on a trek. We’ll ride without gear, away from the campsite, up and into the mountains the pristine Laguna Isolde, and then return to Rio Blanco. The trails climb quickly and are narrow, barely wide enough for the horses to pass. We’ll enjoy another night at the hot springs and then ride out of the mountains back toward Antilco. It’s a short trip, compared to most of our treks, and an easy one, considering we’re camping in the same place twice.

The weather should be perfect- sun and clear skies for mountain views and starry skies. I’m anxious to get back out into the mountains with the horses and can’t wait to leave. Without fear of rain, and with only three nights of dinner to prepare, it will be a relaxing first trip! So… until I get back, with an update from my trek, luego!