We took two days to cross Paso San Francisco the third border crossing between Argentina and Chile from the north, coming south. It was the third highest of the passes at 15,505 ft formally. Konstantin doesn’t do nicely at altitude however Layne and I had been feeling positive, breathless however no complications.
This border is barely open on Tuesday and Fridays and Rusty’s exit allow had for use by Thursday so we needed to cross on the Tuesday opening. We began out from Fiambalá late Monday morning to be prepared. The crossing is 300 miles lengthy with no gas on the way in which. We ought to be positive however we loaded ten additional gallons to be much less confused.
Konstantin gave us the jugs after he was denied entry to Bolivia the place gas is just not simply out there. The canine under belongs to the fuel station in Fiambalá. The signal says take pleasure in and calm down. I’m pressured to consider the canine can learn.
I prefer to waste our substance giving pet food away to hungry locals so we stopped on the grocery store named for a sea mammal, right here, so removed from the ocean.
Rusty picked up some hints from the fuel station canine.
Simply be warned: Paso San Francisco is all desert, on a regular basis. And for us the excellent news was the street, Freeway 60 in Argentina was all pavement 120 miles to the border. Freeway 31 in Chile was one other story.
Did I point out there’s a lodge and restaurant an hour out of Fiambalá? No fuel stations however meals, that’s a distinct story.
This Argentine couple wished to know our story they usually gave us some helpful recommendations on locations to see within the area which we are going to use subsequent yr. It was an excellent chat, they usually uplifted us. Too many Argentines are too shy to speak to foreigners.
The humorous wanting pottery pot closest to me is the home specialty which they name “pastel de papas” which turned out to be shepherds pie and we appreciated it.
The steak was tender and nearly as good as beef’s popularity in Argentina.
There’s something startling about discovering a totally useful lodge and restaurant (with vegetarian selections in meat centric Argentina) a full bar and wonderful service misplaced in the course of this Martian panorama.
I’d come again and I feel we each may need loved staying in a single day on this distinctive atmosphere.
The views are what you would possibly anticipate.
Within the van we had these two jugs stuffed with common fuel and wrapped however not sufficient to eradicate all of the scent. We each wished them gone.
Our in a single day cease was ten miles additional up the street, about 90 minutes from the Argentine border publish. The WiFi at this refuge wasn’t working. Too dangerous.
The refuges are primary however a few hikers in a choose up stopped by earlier than darkish and spent the evening.
We parked subsequent to the hut to attempt yo get out of the wind however the wind backed and my try at cowl failed. On the plus aspect I did empty one of many jugs into the tank. It was hellishly tough within the wind however I acquired it finished. One down.
The wind rocked us to sleep. At 11,300 ft with temperatures close to freezing it was a disturbed evening however morning got here ultimately. Tuesday was the day to cross the go.
