21.02.23

Oatmeal and black tea and fire - the morning constant. Today is the first time I can go to Valle Norte. I am supposed to test the hiking trail, which is about to open, to check if the footbridges are intact, if the arrows are visible and placed in a comprehensible manner, etc.

While the trail is easy to follow at first, it becomes more difficult after crossing several streams and encountering denser vegetation. Nevertheless, the hike is a highlight. The clear sky is reflected in crystal-clear, blue-tinted pools that form in the rocky, gently sloping streams. The final part of the hike leads through a rocky, dry riverbed surrounded by red-violet blooming fuchsias. Hummingbirds and other small songbirds swarm around me curiously. Upon reaching the top, a wonderful view opens up over the wooded valleys interspersed with waterfalls. The last patches of snow, together with a small waterfall flowing down from the summit, form a stream. The rock walls invite you to climb. It's definitely not ideal with bulky hiking shoes, but I can't resist. For lunch, we have chickpea soup with Pati, Lars, and Porter. After four plates, enriched with mayonnaise, which is served with almost every dish here, I am full. After lunch, we carry deadwood from the landslide to the shed. In the evening sun, a Chilean couple gives me travel tips for Bolivia. For dinner, we make pancitos topped with tuna, cucumber, and of course, mayonnaise.