023 11 Locura Chile 6 3 at one stroke
We are in the saddles at seven and riding towards the mountain that refused us yesterday. At 9.30 we stood at the base again and this time we picked a longer and less steep route in smaller rubble. The sand and rock combo were surprisingly stable and we made good progress climbing the 400 m 1200 f of elevation. Leading our three riding horses, while the packhorse slowly followed. 3/4 up the mountain we saw a trail again and now it became easier. At 11 we had reached the summit and we just stood there for a moment realizing we had just conquered 4200 m close to 13000 f. And to top it, instead if snow as promised by the forecast, we had clear blue sky. Luckily the map was accurate again showing us the trail where it was and even though the trail led through heavy bolder fields it was difficult but manageable for the horses and us. There was a lake at the Bodem of the first steep decent and it was tricky navigating through the boulders there, after we had the horses take a break and a big gulp of the crystal clear and not even to cold water.
We came into a long valley that was flooded with spring water again and as we reached the valley floor there was a dirt road. Here we were supposed to break camp but since there was no shelter, no wood and only soggy and very well grazed gras, we decided to keep going over the next overpass till we would find enough feed for the horses. The trail was sandy now and we managed to ride all the way up to the summit. A barb wire fence was set up there laying partially on the ground, we covered it with big rocks and led the horses across. The decent from there again was easy basically walking down a big sand dune. A group of mares was grazing at one extended vega. We reached a rocky botom of the valley where a 5 feet tall stone wall had been built right across the width of the close to a 1000 yards (m) wide valley, with a fence gate that we could open. We rode down a rocky field that resembled a wide riverbed, except there was no water but for a small little run at one side of the valley. A single young bull and a young gelding where eying us when we rode past. Later we learned that the mares were going to be brought down to this pasture to protect them from cougars once they were ready to foal. The broad river valley turned into a canyon with steep walls and forced us to find trail again. We rode down at the one side if the canyon where the map suddenly showed a right turn straight up the mountain on the opposite canyon wall. We turned back hoping to find this other trail, but it was not visible till we crossed the canyon floor. From there on there was only one direction. Up till we reached and crossed a Ridge going down slightly and then back up to the next rim in couple 1000-yard distance. I felt sorry for the horses having to climb up this third summit for the day, but there just was no feed all afternoon in this sandy dessert and Berardo was sure we would find good Gras at the lake behind that last rim. As we descended we saw a big group of horses in the valley but also the promise of lots of lush green gras. We had covered about 35 km and more than 2000 m of elevation this day.
We are in the saddles at seven and riding towards the mountain that refused us yesterday. At 9.30 we stood at the base again and this time we picked a longer and less steep route in smaller rubble. The sand and rock combo were surprisingly stable and we made good progress climbing the 400 m 1200 f of elevation. Leading our three riding horses, while the packhorse slowly followed. 3/4 up the mountain we saw a trail again and now it became easier. At 11 we had reached the summit and we just stood there for a moment realizing we had just conquered 4200 m close to 13000 f. And to top it, instead if snow as promised by the forecast, we had clear blue sky. Luckily the map was accurate again showing us the trail where it was and even though the trail led through heavy bolder fields it was difficult but manageable for the horses and us. There was a lake at the Bodem of the first steep decent and it was tricky navigating through the boulders there, after we had the horses take a break and a big gulp of the crystal clear and not even to cold water.
We came into a long valley that was flooded with spring water again and as we reached the valley floor there was a dirt road. Here we were supposed to break camp but since there was no shelter, no wood and only soggy and very well grazed gras, we decided to keep going over the next overpass till we would find enough feed for the horses. The trail was sandy now and we managed to ride all the way up to the summit. A barb wire fence was set up there laying partially on the ground, we covered it with big rocks and led the horses across. The decent from there again was easy basically walking down a big sand dune. A group of mares was grazing at one extended vega. We reached a rocky botom of the valley where a 5 feet tall stone wall had been built right across the width of the close to a 1000 yards (m) wide valley, with a fence gate that we could open. We rode down a rocky field that resembled a wide riverbed, except there was no water but for a small little run at one side of the valley. A single young bull and a young gelding where eying us when we rode past. Later we learned that the mares were going to be brought down to this pasture to protect them from cougars once they were ready to foal. The broad river valley turned into a canyon with steep walls and forced us to find trail again. We rode down at the one side if the canyon where the map suddenly showed a right turn straight up the mountain on the opposite canyon wall. We turned back hoping to find this other trail, but it was not visible till we crossed the canyon floor. From there on there was only one direction. Up till we reached and crossed a Ridge going down slightly and then back up to the next rim in couple 1000-yard distance. I felt sorry for the horses having to climb up this third summit for the day, but there just was no feed all afternoon in this sandy dessert and Berardo was sure we would find good Gras at the lake behind that last rim. As we descended we saw a big group of horses in the valley but also the promise of lots of lush green gras. We had covered about 35 km and more than 2000 m of elevation this day.