Uspallata, Argentina - Gathering food and money to weather a few more days out in some more remote spots in the pass  between Santiago and Mendoza the next stop is a refugio located at 3200m in Villa de las cuevas with tours into Chile from 4000m ridge tops, a little ways back 5500m Cerro Tres Gemelos looms over the tiny alpine village.

 After following the 40 north along the Andes to Vallectios  I wandered up amoungst summits from 3500 to 6000 m, awestruck I camped in a sheltered valley and enjoyed the distant hill  tops of mendoza. after a few days of touring it was time to move on to los penitentes,  where bou bou and I are the only people skiing from 4000m meters in perfect powder down 1100m descents. Living in one of the only places with snow in the andes, and having had a run that will be hard to beat this season I feel that this month long hedonistic pilgramidge to ski the little spots in a big way on a thin budget has finally paid off.

 Next week Chile.