Who needs lugguge?

Ushuaia, Argentina

100 meters from the Beagle Channel..the trip has begun.

Yesterday was our fourth and final leg of a series of flights starting in Seattle and taking us to the southern most city in the world. 58 hours and three airlines later we are finally here. And what a relief. I can imagine that our posts will talk a lot of how beautiful these places are. We´ve cautioned ourselves to be sparing with superlatives and endulging in ¨the most beautiful place on earth¨ tags. After all, we are only a few days into an adventure that should be taking us to many such places. Patagonia-the very little we´ve seen of it-seems to already be a major contender.

We flew from Seattle to Vegas to Mexico City to Buenos Aires to El Calafate to Ushuaia. On the final leg, the pilot took a small detour and flew directly over the Southern Icefield, a landmark Patagonian icon of ice that stretches hundreds of miles North to South. In its periphery are two of the more spectacular mountain settings I´ve witnessed. We took off only miles from the summits of Cerro Torre and Mount Fitz Roy (not our image..but this is what it looks like from the ground.. http://tnjn.com/content/storyimage/2007/11/29/fitz.512.jpg) . The day was perfectly clear and calm in an environment who´s average weather involves 60 mph winds and 0 visibility. Average meaning one in twenty days is that clear. Interested in pictures?

So are we. But we are more interested in a change of underwear. As of last night, our luggage was somewhere in transit over Mexico. We do have provisions to get us by so all is well. And to turn this lemon into lemonade--this is nothing compared to the challenges that lie ahead. Nothing like a little character builder to set the trip off on the right foot. Even though that foot has a three day old sock on it...

All is well. We plan on heading into backcountry as soon as our gear arrives. Gear meaning boots, shells, trekking gear....and soap...toothpaste... We´ll check in again soon.