Rio Eléctrico - Laguna Pollone

Hiking vibes

For the next few days, we decide on a relaxed itinerary with easy hikes along the Río Eléctrico, focusing on camping, enjoying the views, or simply reading or listening to podcasts.

The goal for the first day was Lago Marconi and to camp close to it. For the first 40 minutes, we hike towards Piedra del Fraile, following the same path as the day before. From there, we continue further up the valley. However a few hours later, we are stopped by a too deep and wide rivers, with too strong current to cross it. We decide not to go any further that day and wait until the next morning if the water level has lowered. Instead, we visit the Laguna Pollone, which is next to us. For quite some time, we stay there, making a game out of searching for interesting stones and rock formations and then describing them for the other one to find them. The descriptions are more or less successful (Billie has a bit of trouble with left and right ;)). Our imagination finds wolfes, lions, tortoises, whales, bears, or even a human figure.

Afterward, we return to the gear depot and set up our tent. The view of the Marconi Glacier, the lake, and the surrounding mountains is breathtaking. As the sunset begins, we enjoy our cooked dinner. The silence and nature make us once again revel in memories of the day.

On the second day, we savor a few coffees in the stunning mountain scenery. It is Billie’s birthday (Happy Birthday 🥳🎂). We are a little tired and the water level of the river has not really lowered (although I spot two courageous hikers cross it bare footed with water up until their thighs). All the others give up and we also decide not to go, also because we don’t have hiking poles. So we take it easy. Billie retreats to the tent to read, while I sit on a “rock-chair” with a view. There, I listen and scan the skies with binoculars, soon spotting condors. They don’t take long to display their impressive flight skills and incredible wingspans. Through the binoculars, I also spot four hikers attempting to cross the wild river. They wave their trekking poles around, trying to use them for balance on the uneven terrain. Maybe the sticks are also more of an obstacle for them… After about an hour and one podcast later, they give up and head back the way they came.

We continue as well, reaching our next campsite, Piedra del Fraile, after about one hour. There, we enjoy lunch and Billie’s birthday cake (rice waffles :)—but sweetened because of her birthday (or maybe because I didn’t read the packaging right…). Anyway, the waffles survive only briefly. We then refresh ourselves in the cool Rio Eléctrico. After dinner, with an obligatory celebratory beer, we go back to our comfy tent, before hiking back down to the valley early the next morning.Read more