For more photos... visit flicker!

I have posted (and mostly organized) my photos on a flickr site. If you want to see more photos or print out the adventures you were apart of (hi kate!) then check it out here:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/22522343@N07/

And then I fractured my foot...

I was climbing a sick 11a on friday and sweat off the holds right below my next clip. Taking a 15foot whipper, I landed foot into the rock wall. After getting lowered to the ground, I got a piggyback down the mountain and then a boat ride across the river to a hour car ride to a public hosptial in Bariloche.

I wish I had pictures of it, the paint was peeling and there were stray dogs, splattered blood and homeless men sleeping on the floor. But I did get to see 2 doctors, got 2 xrays and a cast all for the price of $18. So, that was nice.

And the care was good - they found a fracture on my talis bone (the bone that is responsible for lateral movement in your foot) and told me "surgery. go back to the United States." Though I am disappointed, as Mario saidm "tranqa, Liz, vas a regresar." (calm down, you´ll be back). And I will...I plan on coming back to the Valle Encantado... where the climbing community is small and friendly. the climbs are amazing, and for real, in 16 days we had only about an hour of rain.

And so I am home... much thanks to Stacey. Back to the land of a big bed, temperature control and my besties from high school... I am disappointed but at least home is a happy place to return to.

And I am getting surgery on monday in NYC and then I have 10 weeks of crutching around before I am released to continue on my adventure.

We'll see where I decide to go in April - it depends on finances. I have committed to work for Outward Bound again starting in early June, so it might not make sense to go back to Buenos Aires until Septmeber.

So alas, the blog, and the adventure, is put on hold for the next 2 months. I will resume writing when the adventures resume... chau chau, suerte!

Climbing in The Enchanted Valley

Flew back to BsAs, partied with my friends for a couple days before heading down to Bariloche... the entrance to the Patagonia.

Valle Encantado is a sport climbing spot that is hidden on private land about 40minutes north of Bariloche by bus. You have to ask the bus drivers to stop at the ¨virgin¨ (a roadside alter) and you yell across the river to have someone come and pick you up on a small inflatable raft. Using hands or oars, row across the river to the main campspot... tons of tents in a small areaa of climbers from around the world - french, brazilian, argentine, canadian, american. All told about 30 people camped along the river near climbing.

Most days consist of an 11am wake up, 1pm climbing with whoever is around (for me this consisted of a kick ass Canadian chick about my age and 3 men from alaska). You work some of the 100 odd routes, eating lunch in the sun, bathing in the river afterwards, and drinking mate until the sun goes down at 11pm and it´s time to start dinner. The wine usually comes out around 1am and the party can go until 5 in the morning. I love it. And I improved a lot in climbing, leading my first 11A and loving camping for 16 days...