By: Nico Hochanadel, University of Vermont
Now that it’s 10:00 am, we can start walking. You are in charge of the compass and your job is to ensure that we continue to walk due north. A few minutes later we see our first guanaco! You mark the waypoint on the GPS and read out to me the distance and orientation of the guanaco while I record everything on the data sheet.
By: Colin Lane, University of Vermont
One of the first mornings, about twenty minutes before my alarm was set to go off, a group of elephants wandered down the trail they’d made. I laid silent and listened as they walked around the edge of camp, thankfully on the side opposite our tents. They wouldn’t have done anything to our tents of course, but I still would’ve been nervous having an elephant step a few meters from my head.
By: Noah Besemann, CSBSJU
Just two kilometers from the center of town, Camping Aquasol is the primary host of the Round River Conservation Studies Patagonia program. Located on the bank of the Rio (River) Cochrane, Aquasol also operates as a family ranch and homestead, with the sheep and chickens grazing through our campsite on rotation.
By: Sierra Rothman-Haji, Colby College
One of the most memorable moments was stumbling upon a male elephant carcass. The experience of getting to see elephant tusks up close, as well as touching the foot pads and skin, was once in a lifetime!
By: Margaret Lowell, Carleton College
In the Santiago airport, I was able to meet up with the group. As we all traded our names and long travel stories, I could tell everyone was exhausted but excited to be finally starting the trip we had all long awaited.