We followed the trail around a lake and along the base of mountains that rose like walls and ended in cliffs, crags and pinnacles, some of them snowcapped. Once again, I was mesmerized by the jaw-dropping mountain scenery of Patagonia. The trail rolled up and down through forests; if this is what Kenneth considered “flat,” we were really in for it. Long before dusk, we arrived at Refugio Los Cuernos. Tucked amidst trees near a lake that was whipped by the wind into white caps, it was practically invisible from the trail.
Endless Nights at the Refugio
Having my own tent had been one thing. Now there were thirteen of us sharing three dorm rooms equipped with three-story bunk beds 20 feet high. The psychologists were concerned with isolating the snorers in one room so they wouldn’t keep us awake, but I was more afraid of falling sleep and rolling out of my second-story bunk.
After a hearty dinner in the rustic dining room—chicken legs, a mountain of rice, and all the Sanka we could drink—I went to my assigned bunker. My roomies for the night were the three couples of social workers and psychologists, and Steve the investment banker. Steve swore he didn’t snore, although he did need a low bunk because he got up 10 times a night.
Part 1 | (Part 2)
Written by Carole Jacobs, travelgirl magazine fitness editor
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