Photo Albums
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![December 2013 – Patagonia Hiking Adventure](images/gs_Patagonia2013_th.jpg)
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![December 2011 – Patagonia Hiking Adventure Highlights](images/rs_flower_th.jpg)
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![December 2011 – Patagonia Hiking Adventure Highlights](images/dc_penguin_th.jpg)
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![December 2011 – Patagonia Adventure](images/ds_cerrotorre_th.jpg)
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![Andes Adventures Triangle Tour Photo Album by Pat Lee](images/AndeanTrianglePatLee_th.jpg) |
How, exactly, does one end up hurtling across the Atacama Desert in Chile in a land rover? Well, in our case, it happened almost by accident. We were invited to a meeting hosted by friends and fellow runners Robb and Jeanette Taylor. They told us about a tour that they really wanted to go on, the Andean Triangle Adventure. According to Robb the tour needed a certain number of people to go ahead and Robb was single handedly willing to round up enough people to ensure the tour happened. Robb had used Andes Adventures for previous trips and couldn’t say enough good things about the company and its fearless leader Devy Reinstein. He and Jeanette were convinced that this would be an amazing adventure.
My partner Rick and I have travelled a bit but have never done anything that we would describe as “adventure travel”. We were excited about the prospect of joining our friends on the Andes Triangle Adventure. Rick was pleased that he could join the running group for the races, but could also switch to the trekking group to enjoy the opportunity to take photographs and see the scenery at a more leisurely pace. The only problem was that both of us very much wanted to visit Machu Picchu which was not included on the Triangle itinerary. Not really a problem at all, we learned. Devy was willing to put together an extension for anyone that wanted to visit Machu Picchu. The price was great and the 5 extra days still kept us within our 3 week vacation “budget”.
And so we joined 11 others from in and around Regina, Saskatchewan Canada and headed off to Los Angeles to begin our adventure. Along the way we joined others who were also on the tour. In total 38 of us had signed on to explore parts of Chile, Bolivia and Peru. One of the first things Rick and I noticed was that virtually everyone in the group had already taken one or more Andes Adventure trips and they were anxiously waiting for the next one to be announced. To me that spoke volumes about the company and the type of trip we could expect. We were not disappointed. The organization of the trip was exemplary (particularly in a part of the world where such organization must have its challenges), the food and accommodations were wonderful and the guides were knowledgeable, helpful and patient. Best of all there was literally a new adventure around every corner. Rick participated in the Atacama Desert Marathon and the Princess Juanita Half Marathon in the Colca Canyon. He loved both races while finding them challenging and unlike any races he has done in North America. For my part, I was excited to explore Incan ruins, race across the desert in land rovers and receive the blessing of a shaman in Bolivia.
This slide show represents only a sampling of the 2500 or so photos that Rick and I took along the way. They incorporate photos from both the Andes Triangle Adventure and the extension trip to Machu Picchu. Thank you to Devy, and his wonderful guides, particularly Abelardo who made it all possible.
Adventure Reference: Andean Triangle Hiking Adventure & Andean Triangle Running Adventure
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![September 2011– Andes Adventures Triangle Tour - Chile, Bolivia and Peru.](images/pk_face_th.jpg) |
"September 2011– Andes Adventures Triangle Tour - Chile, Bolivia and Peru." Photo Albums by Pat Kolesar
About eight months after Patagonia, I began to suspect that Andes Adventures trips are like those drugs that we are warned are instantly addictive. I wouldn’t know about the drugs, but I did know that I wanted to go back to the Andes, and that I would have to be crazy to even think about going with another outfitter. The only question was which trip to choose. A lot of my friends have been to Machu Picchu, so it wasn’t high on my bucket list. But I don’t know a soul who has hiked in the Atacama Desert, or crossed the Salar de Uyuni. The Andean Triangle it is!
About 3 minutes after I email my trip reservation, the phone rings. Hello, Devy! No, I don’t know the twelve people from my city who are also going on the trip. (Nor am I sure how I feel about it, given that this is a small place with a maximum of 2 degrees of separation between any two residents – no way will what happens in the Andes, stay in the Andes!). A few weeks pass, another phone call: Some of the folks from Canada have requested an extension to Machu Picchu, Devy needs 11 people to make it viable, do I want to go? Pause . . . blink . . . I’m in! Ten months later, I stumble, dazed and exhausted, off the bus in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, with three dozen other hikers and runners from around the world. Abelardo and Devy are about to lead us into a world of wonders.
Adventure Reference: Andean Triangle Hiking Adventure
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![February 2010 – Patagonia Hiking Adventure](images/pk_horns_th.jpg) |
I had just turned 60, was adjusting nicely to a new life on my own, and wanted to do something to celebrate. I recalled the adventure travel vacations I used to dream about in my 20s, back when I had no time and less money. Why not do that now, when I have a bit more time, a lot more debt, and way more aches and pains? Closed my eyes, spin the globe, jab it with a pin, and the destination is . . . the middle of the south Pacific, about 14,000 miles from any land mass larger than about 57 acres. OK, that didn’t work so well. But look, there’s the coast of Chile over there to the east, and I’ve been fascinated by the Andes since I was about 8 years old. Surely there’s some magical place down there that none of my friends (apart from the ones who actually come from Chile) have been to yet, way down in almost-Antarctica. And so, four months later, I found myself in southern Patagonia, with a couple dozen total strangers and a Peruvian mountain man running the show. It turned out to be the trip of a lifetime.
Adventure Reference: Patagonia Hiking Adventure
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![January 2010 – Patagonia Wind](images/PatagoniaWind_th.jpg) |
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![December 2008 – BLOWN AWAY in Patagonia](images/rsjBlownAwayPatagonia_th.jpg)
![MORE SCENICS – Patagonia](images/rjsMoreScenicsPatagonia_th.jpg) |
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![January 2008 – Patagonia Hiking Adventure](images/lp1231_th.jpg)
![January 2008 – Patagonia Hiking Adventure](images/lp1000805_th.jpg)
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Adventure Reference: Patagonia Hiking Adventure
When my friend, whom I met when hiking Mt.
Blanc a year ago, asked if I and some other friends would
like to join him hiking in Patagonia, my first thought was that doesn’t
sound like much of an adventure since “Patagonia” is
located right here in southern Arizona, my home state.
Ah, but then the true picture evolved which included the Magellan
Penguins which are found around the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of
Chile and Argentina. Oh, that Patagonia. We all signed up immediately...
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Here to See More...
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![September 2005 Inca Trail Trekking Adventure](images/JohannaSiegmann0905trek.jpg) |
Adventure Reference: Inca Trail Trekking Adventure
Ever since Robert announced that he was hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, he rekindled my long time longing to do the same. He returned with stories of awe and transformation, and I was hell bent on going.
Of course, having done a lot of traveling in my life, Machu Picchu has always been a dream destination for me, as it surely is for many people who enjoy traveling to exotic and distant places. But to do it under one’s own steam seems to offer an extra-special appeal of personal accomplishment...
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![December 2003 Patagonia Hiking Adventure](images/jsFitzroy_th.jpg) |
Adventure Reference: Patagonia Hiking Adventure
To much of the world, Patagonia is a clothing company. For adventurers, it is the planet's "edge" destination - nature in its wildest form. Patagonia is a vast land of spectacular beauty. Southern Chile and Argentina share these loosely defined region of endless pampas, dense evergreen southern beech forests, turquoise lakes, abundant wildlife, immense glaciers and dramatic landscapes...."
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![July 2003 - Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and Circuit Around Mt. Ausangate](images/jwMachuPicchu1.jpg) |
Adventure Reference: Inca Trail Running Adventure and Peruvian Andes Running Adventure
I looked up at the Milky Way the Southern Cross turned sideways above the 20,905' summit of Mount Ausangate Peru and listened to the words of Abelardo.
"Do you see the dark areas of the Milky Way?" he said.
We all looked again and, as if for the first time, noticed the large irregular areas inside the Milky Way that had fewer stars in them making them appear darker.
"It is amazing that there you will see the shape of a llama and Inca people following it," Abelardo continued.
It was the last night camping after four days of running and hiking a difficult trail around Mount Ausangate.
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![A Peruvian Andes Running Adventure](images/TerriLee24c.jpg)
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Adventure Reference: Inca Trail Running Adventure and Peruvian Andes Running Adventure
View and read about memorable scenes from our Peruvian Andes Running Adventure to Machu Picchu: "Day One: Our guide, Abelardo Vignati, a native Peruvian, displays a vast knowledge and passion for the Inca Culture, resulting in a most informative and fun day. We dine at a local restaurant. All of the hotels, eateries, and food suppliers have been preselected by our host, Devy Reinstein, a second generation Peruvian. All of us carry bottled water. Tomorrow is our first run and everyone is so anxious. Buenas noches..."
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