Switchbacks in the Snow

July 24, 2008

I flew to Santiago where I had a few days in Valparaíso & Santiago before onward flights booked from Santiago to Mendoza to Buenos Aires to Santiago, but it was recommended for me to try and catch the bus across the Andes, rather than the flight. It was the middle of winter (July) and for three days before this the pass was closed, but I was lucky enough that it did open on the day I had to travel. I took many photos through the bus window that day, but this has always been my favourite.

While it doesn't truly capture the experience of being there, it makes a pretty good effort.

Of course having not caught my plane from Santiago to Mendoza I had lots of fun a few days later catching the next leg to Buenos Aires after the airline had cancelled my ticket on me... always arrive at the airport in plenty of time when you're trying to pull a stunt like that, and be as nice as possible to the airline checkin staff. The surprised, stupid, friendly, confused look seems to work for me :-)

The peak to the right appears to be Alta de la Posada (4260m) or Punta Desconocida (4360m) - perhaps both. The peak up the valley to the left appears to be Cerro Level (4432m). Taken when the bus stopped briefly at Mirador Los Caracoles (they didn't let anyone off - we just got to take a photo when it wasn't moving :-)