Mendoza

Wine country

Potrerillos

After careful deliberation we decided to make Mendoza our next stop. We traversed Argentina by bus in about fifteen hours, two of which were spent making a milk run around the capital before finally leaving. The city of Mendoza is quite nice on its own with wide avenues and an abundance of plazas that are laid out symmetrically around the downtown core. However, it is the surrounding area that truly makes this place special.

Puente del Inca

We chose to embark on a high mountain adventure along the river. The excursion took us out of the city, past the sprawling vineyards and into the Andes mountains. Along the way we visited the Incas Bridge, which is an arch that formed naturally and extends across the Vacas River.

Aconcagua

Aconcagua can be seen from the highway pass that links Mendoza and Santiago. It is the highest mountain in the Americas. At 6,961 meters it is second only to Everest amongst the seven summits. We stopped at the park gates for a distant look at Argentina's most famous mountain.

Rio Mendoza

Where is the water? It was a little startling at first to see a dry river bed of this magnitude but apparently water is scarce in Mendoza. A lot of the water is diverted by a series of dams and canals that are located throughout the province. Irrigation is necessary to feed the vast number of vineyards and olive farms in the ultra dry climate. A narrow plain divides the riverbanks from the mountains.

Republica de Chile

Finally, we made an unexpected, early visit to Chilean territory. The trip can only be made in favorable conditions and we were fortunate to have them. After more hairpin switchbacks than I cared enough to count we were atop one of the many mountains that divide Argentina and Chile. The border is not patrolled here, but the unforgiving terrain seems to do a good enough job of that. There are some high altitude trails for hiking around the summit but the road ends here.

Summit

At 4,200 meters, the alpine air was brisk but quite enjoyable after enduring stifling heat in the valley below. Snow could still be found in a few areas and the wind was chilly enough to numb our fingers as we be battled strong gusts of wind to take a few photos. Horn blasts from our bus meant it was time to go. Apparently we were enjoying our time in the thin air more than the rest. 

Cordillera de los Andes

Cindy captured this scenic shot of the Andes during our visit to the summit. A strong gust of wind nearly dislodged her from her perch on the ledge so enjoy the view.