First Bush Camp!

Eeeek
Pouring
Icy
Chores

Setting off from El Chalten we were divided in different chore groups. Firstly we were assigned jobs to help around camp, which would be rotated every 50 days; secondly we were put into 4-man cook groups to assist crew in prepping daily meals, every day a different group helps and there's a 5-day turnaround before it's your turn again. My main chore task is the (un)loading of all the backpacks and sleepgear. Luckily I've got Anthony, Neil and Francois to help me - as them bags are fair heavy.

First bush camp was quite the welcome to overlanding! The Argentine landscape where we are is flat, barren and poses a nightmare for finding spots not exposed to the wind and where us females can keep our modesty while using 'the facilities'. Eventually Pete pulled up into what seemed to be a gravel excavation pit, with skeletons of sheep all over the shop - nice!

Tent locker crew pulled out the tents and we pulled out the bags. Kirsten gave a run through of the locations of food and necessary equipment. Mid presentation a massive storm blew in and we started to get pelted with pouring rain and driving winds. Because bags and tents were outside we had a mad dash to get campsite set up as quick as possible. Bags were covered in tarp and soaked to the skin, fingers numb and blue from the icy wind we valiantly set about erecting the tents. To a passerby it would have been comical to watch. I was sprawled twister style in the centre of the tent, attempting to hold the edges down while Heather went about pegging it into the liquid gravel - the wind beat me a few times and I got a nice few tent face slaps for my trouble. Ken had to kick an entire sheep skeleton out of his way to set down his tent. After some time all the tents were up, insides mopped dry and all our gear stowed away. Then it was back to the truck for cover. The crew had been whipping up dinner while we were phaffing about with the tents. Twenty minutes later the storm abated as quick as it started, and the sun even made an appearance. Cold, damp and tired we ate a hearty meal of chicken and vegetable soup with spicy spaghetti bolognese. We all managed to see the funny side of the matter, but there were quite a few shell-shocked WTF am I doing here faces. Not a great start to bush camping to be sure.

We have also being introduced to the art of flapping. Tea towels breed germs and therefore we have none. Dishes and cutlery get dry via a flapping process. While I can imagine that this works great in sunny climes, when you are in freezing ice cold conditions, it simply numbs your poor fingers to falling off point. Still, it makes for amusing photos.

The next morning we headed off, leaving bush camp one firmly behind us with the hope of it becoming a forgotten memory. Torres del Paine beckons, and the start of a 4-day trek!