Finally...

Bariloche and in particular its Calle Salta, small street where we´ll end up meeting everyone, will leave us a good memory: great people and sublime landscapes.

On arrival in the city, we are expected at Yesica and Caro´s, two friends of Damian (reminder: he is crossing the country by bicycle).

We spend a few quiet days in the most famous city of Patagonia, known for its chocolate, its landscapes, its ski resort (Cerro Catedral) and the atmosphere that prevails there.

I meet a guy from Skipass (website for ski fans) who knows the area well and gives me advice on where to go ski touring. Very cool.

We realize once again that the information given by the tourist office and the Office of Parque Nacional are quite partial and mostly erroneous: "There is only one path open in the area because of the snow"...  Song that we know. Fortunately the Club Andino gives real information: "There are several shelters opened and all treks are possible, although somewhat complicated because of the snow."
We therefore decide to leave for “Refugio de Frey”, with all the ski gear on the back because according to what I have been told it is a good place to ski. Caris hates me a little bit more at each step because of the weight of her backpack, super heavy, but never complains.

We arrive and indeed it is a very good place, full of couloirs with a lot of snow. The refuge, guarded by Hernan, is really nice. We meet Cesar and Elena as well as Daniel and Daniela, two Argentineans couples really cool. The next morning, I go skiing but the snow is pretty bad. The rest of the day, we climb a mountain with Caris. We stay one more night and the next day with advice from Hernan and a guide, I try a couloir that turns out to be very good.

We get down in the afternoon and spend the evening with Jeremy and Sarah, an English couple met at the shelter.

The Saturday before their departure, we go to Campanario, a small hill which has one of the most beautiful views of Patagonia.

On Sunday, while we are in the combi recovering from our previous evening, a girl, Laia, comes to see us, tells us that she saw our sticker Argentina-Alaska and that she wants to make the same trip with her boyfriend on a motorcycle. We talk a bit and she invites us to come to the hostel situated just in front, that belongs to her boyfriend. Once again luck is on our side! Invitation to dinner every night for free and use all the facilities of the hostel (showers, internet, etc.). In addition we will have the chance to meet all the people who work there (Caro, Dorleta, Sebastian ...) and many backpackers.

The following days, we do the Circuito Chico, which leads us to see other beautiful scenery.

A night at the casino to prove that we are unlucky at cards.

Another small trek to a shelter where we meet the keeper Esteban. The rain has made a strong comeback, so we stay with him the rest of the afternoon drinking mate and chatting. He tells us the story of the refuge which was the first ski resort in the country. Super interesting.

An afternoon with friends of a friend of Caris, Caro y Miguel.

Another trek near the Lago Gutierrez.

In short, we can finally enjoy the Andean mountains after two weeks of rain, even if the climate is far from being perfect.

Once again, the departure is not easy: saying goodbye to all those people who make our journey so beautiful, but that´s the game. Meet people and quickly get separated with the hope of meeting again soon.