Bushwhacking for a View

A few days ago in the harbor Caleta Cañaveral, Mama, Big Jack, Porter, and I went on an enjoyable hike up a hill. We rowed ashore and began what was soon to be a memorable hike.

After walking on the slippery stones of the beach, Mama found a place to go up. We had to bushwhack. Big Jack led and I followed close behind, pushing away plants and stepping over roots. I thoroughly enjoyed the bushwhacking for mainly two reasons. First, it was the first time I ever went bushwhacking. I have gone through dense forests but nothing like this. I have never tried to navigate the shrubbery in the dim light that slipped though the leaves, high above. Even though I got a few scrapes and hits in the face from swaying plants, I count it as a fun part of the hike. Second, it was amazing to be in the plants. We had to climb up so sometimes I would get just above the ground layer of bushes and ferns. I could see the true wonders of the Patagonia forests.

Eventually, we got above the dense part of tree line. Now we walked on moss and a bit of grass. Clumps of trees dotted the ridge face. I cannot really call it a ridge. It was more of a not-so-steep section of the hill. Above us, the mountain loomed, dense with trees again. Low mist and clouds clung to the side of of the mountain and we could not see the top. We decided not to continue ascending. Instead we walked along the hillside.

Once we stopped, I noticed how great a view we had. I could see Sila, looking like a toy boat in a bathtub. I have not been high up lately because the forests have been too dense. In contrast, we were able to make our way through this forest. Unlike in other places, we only had to bushwhack a little ways, not for miles and miles.

Another funny thing about the hillside was, believe it or not, a noise. We kept hearing it. It sounded like someone making the noise that you make when you are thinking ("hmm"), except really high pitched and short. At first, I thought it was a bird. Then we realized it was coming from the ground. It would make the noise beside me and startled, I would jump. Now I am betting it was a toad croaking. Whatever it was, the sound was amusing. We took one last look at the spectacular view then went back the way we came. (Big Jack did a great job retracing our steps.) - Jack Rabbit