LeftWithLouie

After arriving to warm and sunny Buenos Aires this afternoon, I spent a few hours sorting through the thousands of photos I took over the last few weeks travelling through Patagonia.

Looking back over this time gives me a sense of pride in that I have achieved a long-held dream of travelling overland through Patagonia. I also feel a sense of sadness that this part of the adventure has drawn to an end.

We drove south on Ruta 40 as thoughts of Che Guevara entered my mind. The landscape changing seemingly at ever bend in the road, from snow-capped mountains to dry arid plains. The further we drove, the more scenic the outlook became. Guanacos lined the highways, sprinting off at the very last moment. For me, this was paradise.

Reaching El Chalten, we hired some tents and hiked into the Los Glaciers National Park with provisions to last a couple of days and the bare essentials of wine, jamon and cheese. Cerro Fitzroy and Cerro Torre revealed themselves to us on the second day with clear skies. It took quite some discipline to put the camera down and simply sit back and take it all in.

After driving thousands of kilometres, enduring multiple border crossing as we weaved our way south and freezing my butt off sleeping in the wind-blown wilderness, we reached the world’s southernmost city of Ushuaia: the end of the world.

With its wind, rain and ever-changing weather, Patagonia challenged me at times, but it also brought me great joy through its natural beauty and its inhabitants. I am still processing my time in Patagonia, how it affected me and how it will shape my outlook on the world in the future. One thing I do know is that it is a place to which I will return.

I plan to write posts in the future about specific locations throughout Patagonia but I thought it best to give an account of my initial thoughts and feelings while they are still fresh in my mind. Following are some of my favourite shots from Patagonia. I love landscapes and wildlife so I hope my photos do this beautiful region justice. Enjoy!