Update #2

Try to keep up here, I'm trying to catch everyone up.

After the Patagonia adventure, it was back to Santiago, and some smog.

After 2 days in the city, my eyes started to burn all the time, and I could notice it was harder to breath. As it turns out, I have an allergic reaction to the smoke and the smog in Santiago. So, my weekend adventures outside of the city would continue.

The next weekend Steve, Francis, and myself hitch-hiked from Santiago to Cajon del Maipo, a nice canyon with a river or two right outside of the city, it's easy and cheap to get to. We were picked up by some construction workers, we went for a pretty good hike, then when we were done, we met back up with the construction workers, we were served wine and empenadas, and given a ride back to the city. Really nice people.

The next weekend I was invited by a buddy of mine that I play some occasional disc with to join him on the "ridge hike". Essentially it's a hike from the road up to the ski resorts on the north east side of Santiago, to the same valley that Steve Francis and I hiked the previous weekend.

We started after class on Friday, there was a group of 10 of us, but by the end of the first day, we were down to 8, Steve turned back to help another guy down that wasn't feeling well.
Friday Hike:

Hiking up Cerro Providencia, that's fog behind me.

A view up the canyon from Cerro Providencia.Santiago By night
Timed photo gone wrong... or very very right?
That's what I was trying to do.


Saturday Hike: From Cerro Providencia (elev. 8900 ft.) to Cerro San Ramon (elev. 10300 ft.)

Refugio #1 on top of Cerro Providencia in the morning.

A view of the Andes from the hike that day. Beautiful isn't it?

A view of Santiago from the hike that day, and yes that's smog... lots and lots of smog.
The crew inside refugio #2 on top of Cerro San Ramon.

Niko making use of his climbing skills, a padded floor, and the refugio.
Sunday, down to Cajon del Maipo:


Big group photo

That's where we were headed, Cajon del Maipo.

This is everyone realizing that they hadn't packed enough water.

Beers at the end of the trip.
It was a good trip, and I got the chance to meet some pretty rad people.

That week we had another Critical Mass. This time I persuaded a bunch of the USAC gringos to join us. Nico (from the ridge hike) works at a local city bike tour place, and got them all hooked up on bikes, FOR FREE. Thanks Nico and Bicicleta Verde.
The mass
Max, Jaron, and Steve sharing just some ordinary peach juice.
Ryan
Max this is before his bike got dominated, the thing wasn't exactly road worthy, but that's OK, because Max is a little guy.
Steve, Lia, Max, Jaron, and Ryan

The next weekend, it was to Cajon del Maipo again for one night on Friday night.

Steve in his natural habitat: wilderness, hatchet, and beer.
Suzie, Laura, Max and Will on a tarp, in the shade all day long.


Cajon by night,


This is Mike, he's not a little guy, he's probably like 6'2" or maybe a bit bigger. that tent measures 5' long. Sleep well mike?

April came to visit Sunday morning.