Day 4: A Hike & An Empanada

Published by

Sophie Rogers

on

March 16, 2024

Good morning!!!

This morning we woke up, got dressed, brushed our teeth, and went to breakfast. Breakfast was at the hotel so it was very easy, which was nice. It was buffet style which was super nice and easy for us each to get exactly what we wanted. Mine consisted of a little bowl of cereal… per usual lol and honestly, some of us would be surprised that I even ate breakfast #GoMe.

After breakfast we headed to a nearby bakery to grab empanadas for lunch/snack at the top of the hike. We each grabbed 3 empanadas for the hike. We grabbed the empanadas from a local Panaderia.

Today was the day we decided (with the help of Gavin & Jess) to do the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. It was a 12 mile hike round trip with around 3,500 ft of elevation gain. On our way to hike we ran into a family of cute little foxes. The hike was a big from town (8 minute walk to the trailhead). We started the hike around 9am and man the views were stunning the entire way of the trip. We even thought that some of the best were around 1 mile into the hike.

The way up was a lot faster than we had originally planned. It took us about 2.5 hours to get to the top of the hike. On the way up we had to pass a group of about 10 hikers, they were hiking fast, but they were super loud and we wanted to have a little peace on the way up so truly hustled to get pass them. We were able to successfully pass and enjoy the rest of the hike as we only saw 1/2 groups on the way up and at the top which was unreal.

Once we got to the top we immediately found a rock and dove into the Empanadas (they definitely tasted better at the tip of a mountain)! We sat at the top and hung out for a bit, but it got super windy and cold so headed back down after 20-30 minutes.

The morning was pretty cloudy, but the sun popped out ever so often on the way up which was great. On the way down the sun was almost completely out, but it was just super windy. We were glad to be away from the top not only because of the wind, but the amount of people we saw on the way down.

As I stated early, I would almost argue that the views on the way down were prettier than at the top. It was such a diverse landscape you were able to walk through. You could see the mountains covered in snow, trees that looked like you were in the middle of Africa, a bright blue Ocean as if you were in New Zealand, and a big ole forest. It is hard to explain the views surrounding us cause it was so unique.

After the hike we went back into town. Ashley needed to go on a run, so we decided to quickly go and grab another quick snack before Ashley ran & Katherine and I went on another quick hike. The snack we decided on was, of course, another empanada. We ended up at La Roti for an empanada and let me tell you, it may have been the best of the trip. We decided to eat them inside, so they were warm with a delicious spicy salsa.

While we were in the empanada lunch place, a lady came and started a conversation with us. She was super cool, but was telling us her whole story of how the airline lost her luggage which had all of her meds so this was going to be a huge issue for her trip. We all felt terrible but didn’t really have a solution as we did not work for the airline and any solution provided would not work for her. But it was very fun to chat with her for a little before heading on our merry way.

Ashley went off on her run while Katherine & I decided to hike to a waterfall. This was a fairly short hike 4.5 miles with little to no elevation gain (500ft). It was a gorgeous day and the hike was beautiful. At the end there was a massive waterfall that was super cool. We sat and enjoyed the views for a while. As we got up, Katherine cut her finger on a tree and we ended up having to use my first aid kit for the first time (officially happy I brought it along). Funny enough while we were hiking we saw Ashley run by which was lovely.

After our hike and Ashley’s run we decided to head back quickly to the hotel to change before drinks and dinner. After any good hike the first step should be a beer. We headed to the Microbrewery which we assumed was a brewery, but instead was a restaurant. We sat down grabbed a beer & turns out it was more of a restaurant, downed our beer and left. We went to a true brewery for a drink. We went next door to a place that I am unsure the name to grab quick drinks before our 7pm dinner reservation.

Beer was great and the vibes were high. Once we finished these we headed to dinner at Maffi. These is where we had the best white wine thus far of the trip. It was a Patagonian wine, from one of the top producers of the region (according to our waiter). It was delicious!

Ashley & I got the Gnocchi with pink sauce and Katherine the Carbonara. We ended the night with chocolate ravioli which was to die for! Overall, one of the best dinners of the trip.