12/12: Some steep hiking

Ushuaia to Rio Grande, about 250 km

The day starts bright: spots of blue sky and sun patches on the green slopes of the mountains. We head for the Tierra del Fuego National Park just about 20 km East of Ushuaia. Rather than doing the Costera trail (like everyone else) we follow the recommendation and chose Cerro Guanaco trail. "The whole trail goes quite steeply up deep slopes." We laugh about difficulty level strenuous and cannot believe that 5km will take 4 hours one way. That's for the Argentinians. Well six and half hours later we're back. Without reaching the top as we took hundreds of pictures. Probably we just did half of it (this trail is a must and without picture-taking you can probably make it in 2 hours if you're fit as it is a steep one). But the forest is incredible, the ground is very lush green, the bark of the trees shine silvery. And every now and then we cross this picturesque creek. Just too much for the photographer.

At around 6pm we leave Ushuaia already. Sadly because we just started to like the nature surrounding it (the island is worth more exploring than we did if the weather is good, e.g. estancia Harberton). With the greatest sunlight we drive North. The mountains, forests, lakes apear like never seen before in the clear air. Our ride is beautiful. We pass the enchanted forests again, see creeks wind through the grass land (yes, it's flat again). The Atlantico Sur is at its best in this light.

Unfortunately our hotel is already complete but we find anotherone on problem and enjoy the slightly old patina, especially the elevator is cool with two doors and the small of mechanics.
Dinner? Oh, yes, it's steak.