Huella Andina in Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche may be the most highly coveted destination for fans of outdoor life, camping and long hiking tours across the Andean Patagonian forests. Five of us -true enthusiasts of the area- ventured into getting to known some stretch of the trail known as Huella Andina.

After a visit to the Nahuel Huapi National Park building, we already had the information we needed. We got our backpacks ready with all the essential items, the proper clothes according to season and then resolved to go to Lake Mascardi in order to start hiking along the trail that would deposit us at Lake Steffen.

Holding our maps in our hands, we set out along the road that heads for Mount Tronador but did not cross Llodconto Creek. Huella Andina uses an old vehicle path where we tested our strength, as it features quite a demanding climb. We followed this way up to Boock station. At this point, we had a short rest, then rearranged our equipment and took a different trail across a plain and quiet area.

We made another short pause to change our footwear and wade across a river. That way, we avoided the danger represented by the marshlands in the surroundings. Farther ahead, we crossed several thin creeks and put our hiking shoes back on so as to start descending alongside a waterway. We got to a village known as Montes. We were close to the head of Lake Steffen. Feeling a little tired, we needed to change our clothes and shoes.

We settled down at a primitive camping site and revised every second of our 19-kilometer hike which had taken almost 7 hours. All along that stretch, good sign-posts were of the utmost importance for us to find our way around and get to the next one.

Huella Andina began as a project that would focus on everything related to nature. It is a pioneer in our country with regard to a larger development known as Senderos Argentina (Argentina Trails). They both rest on the idea of offering new outings to all kinds of visitors for them to join distant points while getting to know green spaces. This is the combination of already existing shortcuts that are integrated to one another, in addition to sign-posts with information and some services too.

As the sun set, we waited for the nightfall by the fire, which warmed up the prevailing cold air. We could perceive the aroma of the trees while the fire burned slowly into ashes and our sleeping bags called us from the inside of the tent.