Tierra del Fuego

Just after 1 am we stop for a short break. An island of blinding neon light and cigarette smoke in the black night. Blessedly cold air and room to hop around and stretch legs that I don't know what to do with in the bus because they are too long to be arranged in comfortable symbiosis with the seat in front.

On the road again I can't sleep but with some trippy music and staring at the reflections trapped between the window and the lights flashing by outside I quickly get myself into a similarly thoughtpreventing state of spaced out numbmindedness.

The guy next to me has the same idea, we are both wearing headphones and I can still hear his music. He also has a bottle of awefully sweet coffee liquor. I haven't really eaten for a day and a few somewhat vile sips are quickly and pleasantly effective. Off through the night we fly...


****************************

Special thanks to Splat for a really FKNA hookup.



Once the ocean is hidden behind the first narrow ridgeline, the jagged expanse of rock and ice becomes a sea in its own right. And yet the mountains here are most fantastically alien where they rise suddenly from the water, like dragons or unicorns, something one has imagined but would be rather startled to encounter face to face.





In clear weather everything sparkles with colour.







But it only takes a few clouds and all things colourfull seem garish and out of place in a black and white world.



The single, very flat piste is quite popular but actually this chairlift is the gateway to the terrain around Galciar Martial, to be seen above the city.





Splat's friend Claudio runs a small mountain restaurant/hut here. I showed up and asked if it would be possible to sleep up there. Basically they told me where the key was and I had the place to myself once the sun went down. Muchas Gracias again to the two really cool refugieros..

The nights were starry and filled with views of the city glittering below like so much jewelry. The days were pleasantly lonely, wandering around in some exceptionally beautiful scenery.









Break with the line of the afternoon in the sun below.



Very pleased to have found my way in here.



"Variable" snow but I had practice in Europe this winter and frozen death cookies and windcrust just make me feel really at home.



Faithful Companion



I was here.



and don't you just hate when your hair sticks to your face like that? running water and electricity - as opposed to a lack thereof - are definitely preferable when it comes to creating a dureable hairdo.


Crampons are my highheels.



This


was


nice.


Next valley over.



It would look much better with some bros, dontcha think, splatman? ;)


Oh the views.


There should be more days like this.



Good place, good people, sad to leave.

The end of the world - The beginning of everything.




***********
Stay tuned for more "klar goes to a far away country and pretends to be a core skibum" adventures and remember, yardsaling off cliffs is bad for you!