Cordilla of the Andes

On Saturday, went with Jorge (http://www.jorgeexcursiones.cl/) and some school mates to thermal pools and a hike in the Andes (http://www.jorgeexcursiones.cl/ingles/excursiones.php?excursion=termas_plomo). Yesterday it was snowing in the mountains so there was a dusting of snow on the mountains which is a rare sight to see here in February.

The ride in the bus was killer as it took over 3 hours each way and it was pretty cramped. When we finally got to the termal pools, we thought that that was it, or maybe a stroll, but Jorge had other plans for us. Ended up hiking up a small mountain to get to a lagoon that was feeding a waterfall. It was a cool and pretty experience to be walking up and through other mountains in the Andes. The temperature range was a of an experience to as we are used to 25-30 degree celicius days and we were in maybe 5-10 degree weather for most of the trip. At the peak of our trip, the lagoon, it was whipping hail.

The other interesting part was adjusting to the thinner air. I´m not sure if I´ve hiked in high altitudes before (we were at 3000 metres), but boy did I feel sleepy, tired and dizzy to start for the first hour.