Northanger April 2006

April 26th

After climbing fluffy puffy hill, we left Estero Coloane the next morning. The night before we left Uncle Greg put a crab pot out into the bay. The crab pot was found in the bush. The next morning we pulled it out again and in it was a crab!!! It was so cool because we had been trying to get a crab for ages. When we left Coloane, we went to Caleta Eugenio (we stayed there at the start of the trip as well). On the way we saw southern sea-lions and their pups who were learning to swim. They were so funny. It was a very long way to Caleta Eugenio; we left fairly early and the sky was quite dark when we arrived. The next moring there was a brillant sunrise with different oranges, yellows and pinks. We then headed for Puerto Williams. This time we actually SAILED for most of the way (that was the first time we have sailed and not motored for any of this trip). Unfortunately I felt green almost the whole way. Apart from the green-ness, the passage was quite good. We saw alot of wildlife, an orca, seals and two albatross. There were a lot of other boats in Puerto Williams. One of them a had a French girl on it who spoke French and Spanish. (I only speak Engish). Somehow we communicated although to play a game bit like pictionary and have a grass fight. It was funny. That last night in Puerto Williams Aunty Keri got out the guitar. Soon everyone on the boat was playing the spoons or something. We probably kept all the other boats awake and it was fun.

Here are some more photos of the trip.

April 25th

When we left Seno Pia, we went to Tres Brazos, Caleta Cinco Estrellas (five star cove). When we got there we climbed up a hill. Not a very steep one though.
When we left there, we sailed (motored as no wind) to Estero Coloane. We saw Comersons dolphins. They were so awesome but they didn't swim beside the boat for long. Also on the way I baked a yummy chocolate cake.
After we tied the boat safely in Coloane Aunty Keri, Uncle Greg and I went for a kayak around the bay. We saw a glacier and some waterfalls and a seal (the seal I didn't see as I didn't have my glasses on).

The next morning we woke up at first light to walk up Fluffy Puffy hill. (it is so miss-named as it is almost 3000ft high, but the highest point, Devil's Tower is well named). Everyone went on the walk but only Aunty Keri, Dad and I got to Devil's Tower. (Uncle Greg went back with grandad). The weather was wet and snowy. Walking was reasonably easy as the hill was mossy, granite or grass but we didn't climb to the top of the Devil's Tower as it started to snow and was too slippery. We stopped at the bottom of Devils Tower. Dad got up to three metres from the top. We had lunch in a sheltered pile of rocks near the top. There was this hole in a huge cliff and you could look straight down. It was scary. On the way down I fell in a snow covered stream twice. Once unaware it was there and once trying to get myself out. That sucked as I was warm and dry until that happend.We also went down the wrong ridge which we took because it was foggy and there was poor visibility. Then we had to go down a hill and then through this impenetrable jungle. It was a good walk, but I was so glad to g

et back to the boat.

April, 24 2006

Garnet Hill, oh excuse me, Garnet Mountain - 3000 feet plus. W started the climb straight from the dinghy basically, but the land was flatish for a while. Then it went up and up and up. The forest was thick beech forest with LOTS of prickly plants. There were lots of yummy chaura berries as well. Walking was a bit hard as there were few flats and they were basically full of bog! yeah, we did get a bit bogged out. When we went up the steep bit through the forest, there was a waterfall. Not a very wide one but very long. It was more like a skinny, steep creek. When it got steep we had to pull ourselves up on branches and the occasional prickly plant. At the top of the waterfalll the bush stopped, and it was just mossy ground. Finally we stopped for lunch. Our lunch spot was pretty good, sheltered with a good view.

You could see a glacier, a lake, mountains, the sea and rocks.The garnets started near the top, and were in shaley grey rock, don't know what kind of rock it was. The first patches of snow started just after the end of the trees, but after the garnets the snow started to get heavy. At the top the snow was very thick, about fifteen centemeters deep. On the way down it started to get dark and I started to get grumpy, by the time we reached the boat it was quite dark. I was so exhausted.
Hayley.

April 17,2006

The highlights, how do I start...Yesterday we sailed to Caleta Olla. The weather was great and has been since. On the way we saw a guanaco (llama thing) standing on the shore!! Today we went on a walk/tramp/bush bash/epic adventure to Holanda glacier. On the way we saw the CUTEST little fox.

I just wanted to cuddle it! I got so many photos. Also on the way we stuffed ourselves with bog berries (YUM). When we got to the glacier lake we found a "chocolate tree" and lots of chaura berries (YUM again) Now we are going to have a BBQ on the beach (YUM again again) Keep you posted....Hayley