The Call of the Wild: 8 Days Completely Lost in the Andean Patagonian Forest
To get lost in one of the most remote and wild places in the world is my kind of living.
I love bucket lists.
Bucket lists give my life more meaning. They inspire me to do more, to grow, and they enhance my sense of accomplishment in different ways.
Growing up, I had many dreams and adventures on my bucket list, and one of them was to go on a solo hike in the Andean Patagonian forest.
I couldn’t tell you why, but I can tell you how I did it, and how it felt.
For those of you not familiar with the Patagonia forest, this place is one of the most remote and wild places in the world.
After years of hiking the African savannah and European forests and mountains, I became a rather experienced hiker, but this solo trip was going to be different.
Determined to fulfill my dream, I moved to Argentina in 2015.
The main reason I moved to Argentina that year wasn’t to hike the Andean Patagonian forest, it was to visit Lionel Messi’s home country and town, Rosario.
Lionel Messi is, in my humble opinion, the greatest athlete of all time. Luckily for me, he played for my team for most of his career.
Having never lived in South America before, 2015 presented me with a chance of a lifetime.
I had just reluctantly quit my MBA (Master of Business Administration) at Macquarie University in Sydney for health (and financial) reasons, and was looking for another postgraduate master’s degree somewhere cool and not too expensive.
While Argentina wasn’t the cheapest of options, it definitely offered a wide range of opportunities and a great cultural experience.
So Argentina it is !
My Spanish was bad but I spoke Italian and French fluently, so I kinda knew learning Spanish would be a piece of cake, and it was. Two months in, I was already semi fluent in Porteño.
A few months into my stay and already feeling like a local, I set off on a 8-day journey into the Andean Patagonian forest.
I rented out a Tentsile Tree Tent, carried all the necessary gear and food, and took on my lifelong dream !
Why a Tentsile Tree Tent and not any other tent ?
Well, the fact that Tree Tents are suspended was a big plus for me, despite the weight of these bad gyals.
Suspended tents are perfect for forest hiking as they allow you to sleep regardless of the nature of the ground under you. Whether it’s a sloping, uneven, muddy, lumpy or bumpy ground, you can sleep virtually anywhere in a suspended tent (as long as there are trees around, of course). They also offer an additional protection from insects and other critters (and beasts!).
After a 26-hour private bus ride from Buenos Aires (where I was based) to Bariloche, I spent one night in a hostel, chatted with some of the locals about the do’s and don’ts of hiking and decided to head south.
Before we move on with my story, I want to thank the people of Bariloche for their warm welcome and helpfulness. I genuinely can’t wait to go back there, God willing.
For those of you not familiar with this part of the world, Bariloche is known for its Swiss-style architecture and incredibly beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. It’s touristy, particularly in the winter months when visitors come to ski and snowboard in the nearby mountains.
The city center is relatively small, with a charming pedestrian street called Calle Mitre that is lined with shops, restaurants and chocolate stores, just like in Switzerland.
Chocolate is actually a big part of the local culture, so you’ll see many artisanal chocolate shops there.
Bariloche is also known for its stunning Nahuel Huapi National Park, which is home to a diverse range of animals including condors (yeah, you’ll see lots of them), deer and even pumas.
It’s also where my whole adventure took place.
As the morning rolled around, I picked up my gear and headed for the trails.
The first day was quiet. It was far colder than I expected (it was in late April) but other than that, the hike was relatively easy at this point.
After about 7 hours of hiking, I started finally making my way deeper into the forest and running low on energy.
I decided to call it a day at around 5:45PM as the sun was already setting.
In all honesty, I was yet to realize that I was actually hiking in the Andrean Patagonian forest. At that point, all I could think of was FOOD !
I was famished !
I set up my tree tent, performed my night prayer and sat down for some long-awaited dinner.
I fell asleep at around 7PM that day, which tends to happen when you’re in the outdoors and completely disconnected from the rest of the world.
The next morning, however, was completely different. For one, it was freezing cold. I genuinely wanted to start a fire right there and then but knew it was illegal in that part of the park.
Instead, I lit up my candle (pro tip: always carry a candle or two when you go hiking) inside my tent and within 10 mins, my tent felt like a sauna. It was awesome.
As I emerged from my tent, I was struck by the raw beauty of the landscape ! I hadn’t noticed any of it the day before, as I was focused on just putting one foot in front of the other, and my next meal ^^
The towering mountains and the shimmering lake nearby were heavenly, and I don’t use that word lightly.
Despite the rugged terrain and unpredictable weather, I made good progress and camped in different places the following nights. I navigated through the forest with the help of a map and compass, and managed to find fresh water quite easily.
Survival aside, I also encountered a diverse array of wildlife and vegetation and both exceeded everything I’d imagined as a kid !
If you’re wondering if I saw pumas and cougars during my trip, I didn’t.
I don’t know if I was lucky or unlucky, but pumas and cougars are known to be elusive, solitary cats, so unless you’re a seasoned professional wildlife photographer, you may not come across any of them during your trip.
I did, however, see deers, foxes and river otters. I also saw condors several times.
By the end of my trip, I had a growing sense of isolation. Interestingly, I had only come across a couple of hikers on day 3, with whom I shared a meal and many stories.
On the 7th day of my trip, and despited the amazing sense of freedom and adventure that came with being alone in such an incredible place, I honestly longed for a hot shower, a hot meal and my comfy bed. I’m pretty sure this was because of the freezing cold, though.
On the final day of my journey, I was rewarded with a breathtaking view of the forest below and a formidable sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that I had only experienced once before.
I returned home from my journey an accomplished man. Overcoming all the difficulties of hiking, I felt like I had gained a new appreciation for the beauty and power of nature, but also for my bed.
This trip is, to this day, one of the most memorable one’s I’ve ever been on.
What’s your dream place to visit ? Are you an outdoorsy person?
I love mountain hiking because it’s challenging, yet enriching.
If you want to hike more but don’t want to get caught unprepared, read this piece about some do’s and don’t’s. Mountain hiking can be dangerous if you’re not prepared.
Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate your time and hope you got something out of this.
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Tee.
