Closing Catedral

                                                                              Searing sunshine, wet snow, blue skies and bonfires by the lake...Springtime in Patagonia is in full bloom. The smell of asado lingers around every corner and it is officially acceptable to drink a cold cerveza anytime after 12 noon. But don't put away your warm clothes just yet because the shadows are like walking into a freezer, the clouds roll in, the wind rips across the lake and it just might snow again.  

Refugio Frey

My very first back-country wilderness snowboard adventure. Three days of unforgettable hiking, riding, friendship, snow caves, sunshine, stars y una luna casi llena. Many thanks to the chicos of FreshTracks ski & snowboard school for inviting me to join in on their end of the season party. By far some of the most memorable moments of the year... learning to ride with a 20 kilo backpack, fighting 5 hours up the mountain while sinking up to my hips in snow, soaking wet everything, first sight of the Refugio, 360' views, untouched spring powder lines, snow glare sun burns, igloo smoke sessions, moon glow, endless fits of laughter, "bolsaaaa"!!!

no words can describe the savageness of this experience, Refugio Fray is meant to be lived not told so I'll let the photos do the storytelling. BEST.TIME.EVER.

the mochila beast

days like these

Days like yesterday are what life in Bariloche is all about. Blue bird skies, sunshine, cold shadows, springtime powder, dreamlike clouds, out of bounds kickers and snow capped friendship. Memories to last a lifetime........

Hope you enjoy the view :)  

Lago Gutierrez to the right, Nahuel Huapi to the left

Dias Domingueros

"Chica chica, cual es tu mundo?"

It's raining here at the casa but up top I imagine giant snowflakes flying through the air. "Hoy es un buen dia Patagonico" como dice Mauro. Delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, chef Mauro stewing magic in a pot. Cerveza y faso para los chicos. Live music in the living room, amigo Panchi playing the guitar, impromptu jam sessions with Anita on this lovely grey September afternoon. Todo genial...............y de repente, 'WOOOOOOOAAA" grite Panchi. This guy is brilliant. Rythm at it's very roots, born from an old soul. One of his lines says "Que seria de mi de haber nacido casi cuatro decadas atras?" That's exactly what I thought after the first couple strokes of the guitar. He's a soul of 60's rock 'n blues. "Somos los nietos de rock que va a morir de cancer." Absolute genio.

Ski Bummin

"The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. the gift is yours- it is an amazing journey- and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins."

-Bob Moawad

land of the lakes

Left Buenos Aires at 7pm on a 23 hour bus ride south to San Martin de los Andes. A rather curious fellow (one of six people on the bus, including myself) drank aproximately 35 cups of coffee during the journey, starting at 2am until we arrived at 4pm. He paced back and fourth from his seat to the coffee machince, which we were sitting next to, and filled himself a small cup of black coffee approximately every 20 minutes- sometimes he would leave his cup half full, go back to his seat, then return to finish it within 5-8 minutes. He would sit and sip the black coffee, then return to his assigned seat, and the process would start over again. It was one of the strangest things I've ever seen and felt the need to share this random encounter with you... 

the city that never sleeps...

       

Evita Pero

            

Av. 9 de Julio- 18 lanes wide

Sunset on Sarmiento

         

              First night out with my wonderful hostesses