{"id":11165,"date":"2017-04-28T02:30:21","date_gmt":"2017-04-28T06:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=11165"},"modified":"2020-08-28T08:14:28","modified_gmt":"2020-08-28T12:14:28","slug":"up-and-out-of-the-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/up-and-out-of-the-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Up and Out of the Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"
The sun is up before 7, but you can\u2019t see it due to the high walls of the canyon. The light is diffuse and the air is crisp until the rays of the sun can warm it up a bit. After a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast, jam and, yes, <\/span>mate<\/span><\/i>, we are packing up to get a move on. Our team prepares the horses and pack mules, and we saddle up rested and ready for a day on the trail. It\u2019s a lot to pack up, but self sufficiency is key in these parts. Everything from large knives to extra spurs; if you find that you need it, you better have it with you.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hot water<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mounting up at dawn for river crossing<\/em><\/p>\n The sun is reaching the peaks and walls of the easterly facing mountains. More importantly, the snowmelt grows stronger with each passing moment, swelling the river we\u2019ll have to cross on horseback before it gets too high. First, we head upstream to the crossing point and find the water levels low enough to cross.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Boulder valley at Sunrise<\/em><\/p>\n After a fairly easy crossing (for the rider), we pick our way across the boulder-strewn valley and up a western tributary toward the next high pass and the Chilean border along the ridge line. We can see the peaks off in the distance, but it is hard to imagine that we will be at its base by nightfall to camp.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n River at dawn crossing<\/em><\/p>\n The ride up and out of the valley takes us across the first grassy meadow we\u2019ve seen. It is here we pass a hiker. Yes, you read that right. A hiker, alone walking the trail and heading the way we came. He\u2019s the fourth person we\u2019ve seen in 3 days, apart from the soldiers at the <\/span>refugio<\/span><\/i>. I should have snapped a picture of him, but I didn\u2019t think of it at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n My hat is off to this intrepid hiker. It\u2019s a long, lonely trail, and he\u2019s seeing every bit of it up close and at slow speed.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n My faithful companion<\/em><\/p>\n The rock formations coming up from the bottom of the valley are spectacular. There\u2019s just enough moisture seeping from the formations to let the plants grow, creating a colorful slide of beauty that is awe inspiring.<\/span><\/p>\n Very shortly after, however, the new canyon we are traversing changes over to a spectacular red sandstone cliff formation. There are a few waterfalls coming off the sides and caves cut back into it by wind and water over the eons. The wind carvings are incredible when you think of the time it must take to blow sand long enough to cut away the rock face.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Changes to sandstone<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wind carved caves<\/em><\/p>\n Time is both immediate and endless in this part of the world. There are no real measures of time other than the clip clop of the horses\u2019 feet, a twang in the stomach for lunch, and the movement of the sun across the blue, blue sky.<\/span><\/p>\n These seemingly contradictory terms spin in my head. Timeless and timely. Immediate and endless. These terms weave themselves into a reality so deep and profound that no words can describe them. The expansiveness of the space, the silence that grips you, the scale and scope of the mountainous features that dwarf any human presence give pause to anyone with a soul.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wide Open Spaces<\/em><\/p>\n Before we set out on this adventure, Carol had wondered about being bored. Riding a horse through seemingly empty high desert for 5 days could appear on the surface to be boring. But as a person who\u2019s spent countless hours in the woods playing, hunting, and fishing, I knew from experience that boredom would not be an issue. I assured her that she would be anything but. Serious drop offs into canyons also help keep the boredom at bay.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n