Natural Selection

Fuimos a acampar otra vez el fin de semana pasada con Marlen amiga nuestra de Alemania en "Parque Nacional La Campana." [We went camping again last weekend with our friend Marlen from Germany at "Parque Nacional La Campana."] We met Marlen a few months ago in northern Argentina and she has been staying with us for a few weeks in Santiago. Charles Darwin visited this same park (causing its fame) back in 1834 and also hiked to the summit of the tallest mountain there (La Campana, 6,000 feet). The views from the “cumbre” (summit) of "La Campana" extend to Valparaiso and the ocean in the west and to the high peaks of the Andes in the east. We decided to attempt it thinking it would be fun to go on a nice hike.




It turned out to be 14k round trip (8 miles). We actually had an idea of the distance and time it would take, but didn’t actually realize the intensity of the hike and in reaching the summit.

The first 7k was at a thigh burning, steep incline almost the entire way - one of the harder hikes I've done thus far. I would even say it was tougher than Long’s Peak in Colorado - just not as long (Long’s Peak takes an average of 12 hours). It took us 7 hrs for this one.




My legs had already turned to jell-o with half a kilometer left to the summit. As the sun beat down and observing how little water we had left - I was a little concerned about my endurance and legs handling the weight of my body for the 7k down. No way was I stopping though – I hadn’t come that far to quit now. I wanted to stand on top of the mountain! Plus, pretty Jenny was a trooper and hardly even tired. She was some good motivation. I guess all that running she does pays off. Her endurance was amazing! Good job hunny!! :) The last ½ k was the steepest and most difficult by far. Several areas we had to step up a couple feet at a time by grabbing on to a hold above for assistance.






I misread the way down as I thought it was going to be much easier. I guess it was other than the first half kilometer. The decline forces your legs to be flexed constantly. My thighs were so shot it was all I could do to catch my weight with each step down. It was also so dusty and dry that many areas were slippery causing you to easily lose footing if not careful. Shortly after beginning the 7k descent to camp we ran out of water. We luckily arrived at a little drinking hole about another kilometer down as it was the first time I had ever been in a situation where all I wanted was water. It was the mountain stream water that when passed on the way up I thought no way would I ever drink it! Obviously outlooks can quickly change when it becomes apparent something is absolutely necessary! HA! That water was the best I’ve ever had!! It amazes me how the body can reach a point where nothing matters to it other than obtaining water.

It was safe to drink for the most part - just contains a lot of minerals. You wouldn’t want to drink too much or you risk upsetting your stomach as your body is not use to it - didn't stop me though as I filled up and chugged 3 bottles in a row before dousing my head in the water to cool off... it was so hot! Wow – did that help! If those water holes would not have been there I’m not sure how I would have made it down without falling over from heat exhaustion. Thank goodness for the “Corporacion Nacional Forestal” and its strategic placement of these water areas.

All said and done it was awesome, I enjoyed it, and I'm glad we made it to the summit. It was really cool to be at the top and look around parts of South America and the peaks in the distance above some light clouds – especially with my hunny bunny! Yet another thing we’ve done together that we can check off our list. They even have a log for those who make it to the top to sign and write some words - our mark is now there - the triangle.


Looking at our pictures I'm impressed with how far up we hiked. Nearly two hours after starting the trail we took a picture from a clearing we came to of this peak way off in the distance not even realizing that it was the summit of our hike.


Maybe I should begin running more like this girl I know that wakes up in the morning, rolls over, opens her eyes, and says to me first thing, “I think I’m going to go for a run.”

I also got some really cool videos - took one of this huge stick bug in the forest that I just so happened to see move... it's an awesome video! A bee is trying to land on it the whole time - so we got to watch it defend itself and even throw the bee off a few times by completely stopping and blending in with the dead twigs and branches lying on the forest floor.


The bee fell for it a few times and actually landed on the small twigs thinking it was the bug. Talk about a Darwin’s theory at its best, "natural selection," on Darwin Mountain. :) Stick bugs blow my mind with their camouflage or "natural selection."

Couple more interesting discoveries along the trail and best of all - a quick easy dinner before retreating to the tents:







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