Camping

It’s necessary to camp (and wild camp) to undertake the Carretera Austral and southern Patagonia. The distances are just too long for cyclists. Chile and Argentina seem quite easy going about rough camping - although much land is private, thus fenced and chained. Also, in Chile the forest is too dense to be penetrable, in Argentina the pampas grass is too spikey for the tent.

I thought I would show a few pictures of our tent and setup. We have a posh 3 person Hilleberg, which works really well for us with a door and window each (and great view potential). Its very well ventilated (condensation is always a huge tent-problem), while reassuringly weather and rain resistant. Plus we can sit up properly inside.

We have had a lot of rain and wind but have not yet put the tent fully through its paces in terms of storms. The tent canvas goes on the back of Alain's bike and I carry poles and pegs. Alain is the champion pegger, dish washer and water filterer and I sort the inner tent, bedding and packing up. We share the cooking and the hot chocolate. We have a double sleeping bag plus mats. We both really appreciate having our own personal heater in the bag for chilly nights :-).

Of course there are some limitations and challenges to wild camping. Such as needing to get out of the tent for a pee when its raining, or taking down the tent in the pouring rain. But the rewards are not to be underestimated. We love the sense of being a snail carrying its home on its back with the security that we can stop and set up more or less when we want. But more than that, we are able to camp in the most wonderful places with fantastic views, and amazing lighting.

We get up in the night and often see stars in unpolluted skies, Orion always, the Southern Cross sometimes; hear the frogs at night, and the birds in the morning. How priceless is that!Les mer