SKI!

Greetings form Colorado! I am attempting to write this post on my iPad, which is incredibly challenging for someone with fat fingers (me!). So, excuse any spelling and grammar issues. I am sure there will be plenty.

So, yeah, skiing. So far, it's been a great trip...fantastic snow, lots of sun and GREAT company who can challenge me on the blacks. That said, the trip started off with a bit of a hiccup.....

I got into Denver on Friday night. My dad and the rest of my family decided to fly in Saturday, so I spent Friday night with my friend Wynand Dempers, a cool South African dude who recently moved from Houston to Denver. On Saturday morning, we headed out to Vail with Ty, Demper's friend from college. So far, so good - we woke up early so we missed traffic, stopped for delish coffee and even got discount lift tickets through Demper's season pass. By 9 am I had my lift ticket, caffeine in my system and was about to hit the slopes. Then, I saw....

MY SKIS WERE GONE.

Yes, gone. I had left them out when I went inside to buy my ticket (a common practice...everyone does it despite the fact that skis cost more than most people's rent) and when I came out they we gone. I found a Vail ski guy and he told me not to worry, someone probably mistakenly swapped skis and would be back soon when his error was realized. "Just sit tight and wait here for a few minutes." Ok, cool. Easy enough.

30 min. later and still no skis. Now I began to freak. If someone had accidentally grabbed my skis, he or she would have to know by now that the skis were the wrong ones...the likelihood of our skis being set for the same size boot was pretty slim, so he or she wouldn't even be able wear them. However, if they were stolen....well, that would explain why they hadn't been returned.

So, I start to cry. (yeah, yeah, I'm a sensitive cry baby. Whatever.) Fortunately, the Vail ski guy was awesome, and he got me a pair of comped K2 Rictors (awesome skis!) for the day. So I wiped away my tears away, took the comped skis and tried to move on.

By lunch, still no word on the skis. It was looking more and more likely that they wouldn't come back. But by this point I didn't really care....instead I was wondering: "Is there anyway I can afford these Rictors I'm on?"

But alas, as many of you know, I'm a lucky mama and by the time I finish my last run of the day at 4pm, the skis have been uncovered. Apparently, someone accidentally swapped my skis with his, even though they were different brands AND colors AND proceeded not to notice ALL day. Hmmm, right. The whole thing is weird.

But who cares. I'm just glad to have my babies home!

Tour de France...sur le web

When I first bought my bike a couple years back, I only used it for commuting. Then, last fall, I started hitting the road for real. Granted, I'm not a very good cyclist, and my road bike needs some serious upgrades (which should be taking place this week....I *think*) but it's still an awesome way to get out in the sun, burn some calories, and explore the area.

So given my new-found passion for aluminum and carbon on two wheels, as well as my obsession with all things web and interactive, I was pretty stoked to find this Wired article online. It lists all the ways you can use the net to stay up to date on what's going on with the Tour -- even if you are seven timezones away. Among the cool ways you can track Lance and the other bikers: live video and audio streams, really sweet interactive maps and Twitter updates. Check it out.

Went hiking today....

...and saw this! Ew!













More pics below.














Me and Chris. Yeah, I look scary.














Chris, looking like a freaking model. How does he do that at 10 am on Sunday?














Crazy people. Kayaking. In February.














Little Igauzu!

Missing in action

Sorry I have been missing for the last few days. I came down with an AWFUL cold on Saturday, so I have been living on the couch with Kleenex, Tylenol and Airborne. I am feeling better today, but I'm still pretty snotty and sneezy. Yeah, its gross. And I have to fly back to Houston today, which means I'll probably infect the plane with my cold.

Btw, the photo I posted is of my family on Christmas. I am also posting some of the glacier pics I promised I would post a while back. Aren't they great? I love my camera!

Tomorrow's post should be interesting...will be discussing new years resolutions!














And the trek begins!














Walking on water isn't that hard!














Love this pic. This was my guide leading the way as we trekked away.














Once again, it was windy....one of the Aussie girls took this shot. You can't tell but the glacier behind me is HUGE!

Not home yet, but...

I have some time now, so you guys are going to get an early update on my travels! But first, some bad news -- "THE" job didn't work out. They ended up offering it to someone with a more traditional background. They said it was a really hard decision, and they even tried to get additional budget money to hire both of us, but with the economy the way it is, well, the money wasn't there and the job didn't work out. I'll stay in touch with them, and who knows, maybe something else will come about. In the meantime, I am refocusing my search, so if you hear of anything, let me know. I'm also holding out for a lottery win...hey, you never know?

Now, on to the more fun stuff...

Patagonia was AWESOME! Loved, loved, loved it, and cannot wait to go back and hit Chile too. I basically just hiked my butt off with Alexis and her friends. The first day we tackled Laguna de los Tres. Was a great hike...'til the end. The last mile was basically straight up hill. I was sweating up a storm in the cold, cold weather....even the crazy wind couldn't keep my body temp from rising. But as my dad says, "no pain, no gain" and oh, was the pain worth it! We were rewarded with a fantastic view of two gorgeous glacier lakes, and we came thisclose to seeing Fitz Roy. (As a heads up -- the mountain was petty elusive the ENTIRE trip. Thank goodness I saw it the night I got in!)

That night I gorged on an awesome pizza dinner, complete with three (yes, count 'em!) THREE bottles of wine, shared between a few of us (although Alexis and I definitely enjoyed the majority of the glasses. Love the Malbec!)

It was early to rise for our Saturday hikes. My butt was killing me but my feet somehow kept moving, and before I knew it we were back on the trails. The plan was to do this very long and arduous hike (Laguna Toro), but our plans were thwarted by a swampy trail about half way in. I was bummed but also relieved....I sort of wanted to retire to my hotel's wine bar. But Alexis is a trooper, and she insisted we find another hike. We ended up tackling Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, and we were again greeted with amazing views -- AND SNOW!

By this point my legs were seriously hurting, but Alexis and I are psycho. Instead of taking a siesta, we decided to go and hike to Laguana Capri. We followed much of the same trail for Laguna de los Tres but eventually broke off...before that final mile of hell, thank god! Laguana Capri was stunning and reminded me a lot of the lakes in Adirondacks...save for the snow capped mountains in the background. When we crawled back to town that evening, we realized we had hiked close to 24 MILES. Yes, this is totally insane. I sort of felt like a super hero 'til I realized I could barely walk....

That night we chowed down on sandwiches, pizza and gelato before hitting the hay. I went back to El Calafate on Sunday. I was flying Aerolineas Argentinas back to BA, so OF COURSE my flight was delayed. While waiting, I met a woman named Terri. Turns out she works at the embassy with Lena, the woman I met in Mendoza! Lena was kind enough to say I could crash at her place on Sunday night, but since it was so late by the time we finally took off, I ended up staying at Terri's, even though she wasn't there! (She was going to Bariloche.) Anyway, long story short, I have another friend. I feel so blessed to have encountered so much kindness from strangers on this trip. I have made so many new friends...

So that's it for now. I got the email about "THE" job early in the afternoon today, so my inspiration to get out and do some last minute exploring was pretty much shot. This is probably a good thing given that I'm ready to collapse. Let's hope I can pass out on the plane...

Lots of love,
Jen

PS Even though the trip is over, my blog is not. So keep checking it for random updates on random things...just what you would expect from moi.

PPS Doesn't the photo on top look like it came from the Land Before Time? LOVED THAT MOVIE.














Felt like Hurricane Ike at Laguna de los Tres. I thought the wind would blow me over, but apparently the extra steak and ice cream I have been consuming helped me stay put. Thank goodness for weight gain!














Summer snow. An oxymoron that should never be repeated.















Alexis and Jen at Laguna de los Tres. And yes, we are wearing WINTER jackets.














Laguna Capri. Ignore the snow and see what I mean about it looking like a lake in the Adirondacks. Reminds me of my summers at Camp Whippoorwill...

Patagonia....

(NOTE: This blog is for yesterday night in my hotel, but with slow internet access, everything will have to be a day behind. Patagonia is AMAZING!!)

No pics today since internet access is both difficult to find AND extremely expensive, even for US standards. But trust me when I say that Patagonia – deep in Patagonia, as I am now -- is one of the most beautiful places in the world. As soon as I get real internet access back, I’ll post a bunch of pics for you to see. It is amazing.

Yesterday I ventured out for a Glacier Trekking adventure at Perito Moreno, near El Calafate. Was a total blast! I had an adorable guide (is it a requirement that all Argentine guides be hot or what??) and met a group of cool Aussie gals. I thought I was a bit glaciered out from Alaska, but Perito Moreno is simply stunning – just wait ‘til you see the pics. Alaskan glaciers are like ice cubes next to this Argentine baby.

Here are some facts on Moreno for those of you not in the know: Moreno is enormous (30 km long, 5 km wide, and 60 meters high) and it continues to advance, or grow, every day. This is a huge rarity in the glacier world, where global warming is eating away at most ice fields. Moreno’s stabilization and growth is largely due to its “funnel” shape; the accumulation area of the glacier (where the snow falls and compacts to ice) is considerably larger than the ice portion (or bottom portion) of the glacier. So the glacier is able to make up for its losses more easily – the large accumulation area “flows” into a smaller area.. Also interesting: this glacier is at the same latitude as the US/Canadian border. Fortunately for us tourists, wind patterns produced by the Chilean fjords and the Andes allow for the formation of glaciers.

Anyway, your glacier lesson is now over. After the trekking I took the bus to El Chalten, and I already love it! The town is TINY – it was developed as a true border town in 1985 (had to beat Chile to the land claim!) and the year round population is only 600 people. Its entire economy is built around hikers and trekkers like me. Best of all, I actually know someone here! My friend Alexis is coincidentally in town at the same time I am, so we’re going to become hiking buddies. Let’s hope I can keep up. This butt hasn’t been to the gym in three weeks, and my belly is definitely holding a few extra pounds….

Oh yeah, and good news – I already saw Cerro Chalten! In fact, I have a view from my room! (As some of you know, I “splurged” on these final accommodations….I am paying less than 80 USD a night for AMAZING room. I have a king size bed, marble bathroom, and view. Um, can I move here?)

El Calafate

Hey folks,

After a pretty rough plane ride today, I landed (safely) in El Calafate, the central "terminal" you can say for anyone heading to Patagonia. I had low expectations -- I heard El Calafate sucked, with the exception of the amazing glacier up the road (Perito Moreno, which you can check it out here). I, however, love the town. It has something very wild and organic about it. It isn't completely built up yet, so you sort of feel like you're at the edge of civilization (which, for all intents and purposes, you are sort of are). The town is definitely geared toward tourists, but the unpaved roads, roaming dogs, and relaxed attitudes of the locals serve as reminders you that you're not in Disney World (or Bariloche, for that matter....). I suspect the town will have a very different feel in a few years, so get your butt down here soon!

Anyway, tomorrow I am off to a Glacier tour. I am not only seeing the Glacier, but I'll actually be trekking on it! Then it is off to El Chalten for two full days of pure hiking. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates and I have the opportunity to see Mt. Fitz Roy, or Cerro Chalten. See the pic below. This is the view I want. I suspect that I'll get it too, since I am usually pretty lucky when it comes to views. After all, I did see Denali in all of her glory not once, not twice, but three times. And besides, I lost my camera -- God has to have SOME sympathy for me. Not letting me see Cerro Chalten would just be cruel. (Btw, just in case there is any confusion, I am NOT planning on climbing Cerro Chalten. I am not ready to die just yet....)














I am about to pass out, so I'll have to say Adios for now. El Chalten is REALLY in the middle of nowhere, so I am not sure what my internet access will be for the next few days. However, keep checking the blog, and I will post if I can.

Love,
Jen

PS - KUDOS TO ALEXIS for rescuing my camera! I have it back! Yay!

Rafting in Argentina

First, good news -- I have some pics to share with you guys today! I'll explain how I got them in a sec.

Now, onto the more interesting stuff: what has your non-Spanish speaking Argentine traveler been up to? RAFTING! Today I decided to throw on my swimsuit, lather on the sunscreen and hit the rapids. It was AWESOME! I went with a group of about 15. The group was very international -- it included another American, an English couple, two guys from Luxembourg, a French woman, a few Mexicans and a couple of Argentines. We split into two boats -- an English boat and a Spanish boat. Needless to say I was in the English boat...

The river we were rafting down was the Manso River. It is fed by various Patagonian glaciers, and there are even a couple of waterfalls that run into it (although we're NOT talking Iguazu here...). It flows toward Chile and the Pacific ocean, and the closer you get to the border, the more difficult it gets. We were rafting over Class IV rapids at one point, which was a bit scary I must admit!

The scenery, by the way, was INCREDIBLE. This was the Andes I was waiting for. Think beautiful mountains covered with luscious green trees and brush, and bright blue streams cutting through the landscape. It is like a story book.

Anyway, after rafting to Chile (yes, I stepped foot -- illegally I think -- into Chile!) we ate a very Atkins-friendly lunch of steak and sausage. I am still stuffed from it! We also got to see some of the photos that the professional photographer took while we were rafting. He put all of the images and movies onto a disk, and we could buy one for $160 pesos or two for $75 pesos each. Huh? Yeah, we were confused too. Anyway, my group (the English boat) bought two and we're meeting tonight at a bar to copy the CDs. I already put them on my computer, so I'm just handing the disk off to someone else. I would have been fine paying the $75 for myself only, but everyone else wanted to share (and save moola). Illegal, I am sure, but I'm ignorant to Argentine copywriting laws, so....

In the meantime, here are some of the images from today. Enjoy! Tomorrow I head off to El Calafate and then to El Chalten. I can't believe my trip is almost over! It is so depressing, especially when I meet Europeans who are traveling for 6 or 7 months straight. And we Americans get excited when we're given three weeks vacation?!?!

PS - Here is a video of me rafting. Notice how someone fell out -- and no, it was not me! (It was Will, the other American -- and military brat! -- from San Diego.) More videos to come soon at www.youtube.com/jenpearsall. (And some of them are a lot scarier.... :))















More gorgeous scenery. Incredible.













Rafting and getting completely soaked. Our guide was this guy Juan, or "John Smith." He was a total dead ringer for House. He also thought the word "funny" meant "fun" (i.e. "It is very funny when you fall in the water.") We thought he was totally demented until we realized his confusion.













The English-speaking crew, pre-rafting.














At the Chilean border. I am next to Lucy and Rusty, the English couple. Rusty is also one of the funniest people I have every met.