Botanizing Argentine Patagonia - Rock garden...El Calafate is a small and very attractive city...
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1 Botanizing Argentine Patagonia The NARGS Tours and Adventures Committee has planned two tours to the Patagonia region of Argentina in early December 2020. The 12-day main tour will start in the Northern Lakes District of Patagonia (sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of South America), travel north by van through alpine and forest venues, and then to the grasslands and semi-desert at the northern end of Patagonia. Immediately following the main tour, we have planned a 5-day extension to the area around El Calafate in the Southern Lakes District. The timing of each tour was selected to coincide with expected bloom times. For both tours, well-known botanist and author Marcela Ferreyra will be our guide. Requests to participate in the extension only will be considered if space is available. A more detailed itinerary is provided below. Northern Patagonia Tour Dates: November 30 – December 11, 2020 Cost: $3,800 for Double Occupancy $4,700 for Single Occupancy Southern Patagonia Extension Dates: December 12 – December 16, 2020 Cost: $1,660for Double Occupancy $1,960 for Single Occupancy Itinerary for Northern Patagonia Tour Day 1 (November 30): Buenos Aires to Bariloche We will depart Buenos Aires at mid-day for Bariloche. Upon arrival, we will meet up with any participants who have arrived earlier and then drive to a scenic vista. There we will to view the beauty of the magnificent Andean Range to the west, Lake Nahuel Huapi and the city of Bariloche on its south shore, and the impact of changes in precipitation on the forests to the west and the steppe in the east. After settling into our hotel (we will be here for the next 3 nights), we will have dinner together at a local restaurant. Day 2 (December 1): Cerro Catedral in Bariloche Cerro Catedral is a beautiful granite mountain best known as the largest ski center in South America. Its name comes from its many peaks that look like spires. We will travel by bus to Catedral Village and then ascend by cabin and chair lift to approximately 6500 feet above sea level (fasl). The view from the summit is magnificent. The mountain is rich in alpines and most of them should be in bloom at this time of the year. Some of the species we hope to see include Callianthemoides semiverticillata, Viola sacculus, V.petraea, Oxalis erythrorhiza, Ourisia
Transcript of Botanizing Argentine Patagonia - Rock garden...El Calafate is a small and very attractive city...
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BotanizingArgentinePatagonia
TheNARGSToursandAdventuresCommitteehasplannedtwotourstothePatagoniaregionofArgentinainearlyDecember2020.The12-daymaintourwillstartintheNorthernLakesDistrictofPatagonia(sometimesreferredtoastheSwitzerlandofSouthAmerica),travelnorthbyvanthroughalpineandforestvenues,andthentothegrasslandsandsemi-desertatthenorthernendofPatagonia.Immediatelyfollowingthemaintour,wehaveplanneda5-dayextensiontotheareaaroundElCalafateintheSouthernLakesDistrict.Thetimingofeachtourwasselectedtocoincidewithexpectedbloomtimes.Forbothtours,well-knownbotanistandauthorMarcelaFerreyrawillbeourguide.Requeststoparticipateintheextensiononlywillbeconsideredifspaceisavailable.Amoredetaileditineraryisprovidedbelow.NorthernPatagoniaTourDates:November30–December11,2020Cost: $3,800forDoubleOccupancy
$4,700forSingleOccupancy
SouthernPatagoniaExtensionDates:December12–December16,2020Cost: $1,660forDoubleOccupancy
$1,960forSingleOccupancy
ItineraryforNorthernPatagoniaTourDay1(November30):BuenosAirestoBarilocheWewilldepartBuenosAiresatmid-dayforBariloche.Uponarrival,wewillmeetupwithanyparticipantswhohavearrivedearlierandthendrivetoascenicvista.TherewewilltoviewthebeautyofthemagnificentAndeanRangetothewest,LakeNahuelHuapiandthecityofBarilocheonitssouthshore,andtheimpactofchangesinprecipitationontheforeststothewestandthesteppeintheeast.Aftersettlingintoourhotel(wewillbehereforthenext3nights),wewillhavedinnertogetheratalocalrestaurant.Day2(December1):CerroCatedralinBariloche
CerroCatedralisabeautifulgranitemountainbestknownasthelargestskicenterinSouthAmerica.Itsnamecomesfromitsmanypeaksthatlooklikespires.WewilltravelbybustoCatedralVillageandthenascendbycabinandchairlifttoapproximately6500feetabovesealevel(fasl).Theviewfromthesummitismagnificent.Themountainisrichinalpinesandmostofthemshouldbeinbloomatthistimeoftheyear.SomeofthespecieswehopetoseeincludeCallianthemoidessemiverticillata,Violasacculus,V.petraea,Oxaliserythrorhiza,Ourisia
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fragans,Oreopolusglacialis,andseveralspeciesofNassauviaandSenecio.WewillreturntoBarilochearound6pm,andshouldhavetimetovisitdowntownbeforeorafterdinner.
Day3(December2):Route23toPilcaniyeu.Wewilltraveltotheeastthroughthelowermountainsandsteppehabitats.ThesteppeisoneoftherichestecosystemsinPatagonia.WewilltraveltoPilcaniyeu,asmalltownat60kmfromBariloche.ClosetoBariloche,wewillstoptolookforseveralorchidspeciesincludingChloraeaalpina,C.magellanicaandC.cylindrostachya,andalargeOxalisadenophyllapopulation.Lateron,wewillstopindifferentplacestolookforAustrocactuspatagonicus,Junelliasucculentifolia,J.tonini,J.patagonica,J.tridactylites,Violaescondidiensis,Sennaarnothiana,andmanymore.Day4(December3):BarilochetoSanMartíndelosAndesviaPasoCórdoba.WewillleaveBarilocheafterbreakfast.WewillinitiallybeonRoute237asitrunsalongtheLimayRiverandcrossestheEnchantedValley,averyattractivevolcanicrockformationwithrare
formationscausedbytherainandwinderosion.Lateron,wewillturnontounpavedRoute63untilitconnectswith7LakesRoute,whichwewillfollowtoSanMartíndeLosAndes.Alongtheway,wewillstoptolookforViolavolcanica,Nastanthusscapigerus,Oxalisnahuelhuapiensis,Pozoavolcanica,Mutisiaspinosa,andmore.WewillalsotravelthroughaxericforestdominatedbyAustrocedruschilensisandlateronthroughaforestwithvariousNothofagusspecies.WewillhavedinnerandspendthenightinSanMartindeLosAndes.
Day5(December4):SanMartíndeLosAndestoVillaPehueniaWewillleaveSanMartinafterbreakfast,headingtoJuníndeLosAndes,Aluminé,andVillaPehuenia.Ontheway,wecrossthesteppefollowingtheAluminéRiver(famousforkayakingandfishing).AlongthewaywewillbelookingforCalceolariapolyrrhiza,Alstroemeriaaurea,Glandulariaaraucana,andRhodophialamendocina.Intheafternoon,wewillarriveinVillaPehuenia,asmallvillagenearAluminéLakeandaveryrare,relictualforestofAraucariaaraucana.Thesceneryisbreathtaking,withmountains,crystallinewaters,lotofislandsandpeninsulasand,ofcourse,themonkeypuzzletreethatgivesamysteriousandsacredfeeltothelandscape.WewillspendtwonightsinVillaPehuenia.
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Day6(December5):CerroBateaMahuidainVillaPehuenia.AfterbreakfastwewilltraveltoBateaMahuidaMountainandasmallskicenterthatbelongstoaMapuchecommunity,oneoftheaboriginalgroupsthatliveinthisarea.Wewillstayonthe
busuntilwereachacrateratapproximately5600faslthathostsasmalllake.FromherewecanenjoybeautifulviewsofthesurroundingsandseveralvolcanoesinArgentinaandChile.ThemountainhostsalargepopulationofViolacotyledonthatgrowsamongRhodophialaandicola,Oxalisadenophylla,Tristagmapatagonica,Chloraeaalpina,C.magellanica,andmanymore.Itisaneasytowalktotheverytopatabout6200fasl,butclimbingisnotnecessarybecausethemostofthespeciesarearoundthelake.
Day7(December6):VillaPehueniatoZapalaviaPrimerosPinosPass.AfterbreakfastweleaveVillaPehueniaforZapala.WewillfollowagravelmountainroutethatrunsalongtheLitránRiverwithAraucariaaraucanascatteredeverywhere.Therouterisestocloseto6000faslatPrimerosPinosPasswherewewillstoptoseeViolacoronifera,oneoftherarestandmostspectacularrosulateviolas.OtherspecialspeciesforthisdayincludeViolatrochlearis,V.pachysoma,Calandriniaaffinis,Jaborosavolckmanii,severalspeciesofJunellia,andmanymore.IntheafternoonwewilltravelontoZapala,wherewewillspendonenight.Day8(December7):LagunaBlancaandCaviahue.WewillspendthemorninginLagunaBlancaNationalPark.TheparkprotectsagoodexampleofPatagonianSteppewithmanyinterestingplants,includingPterocactusaraucanusandP.australis,Violatectiflora,Pantacanthaameghinoi(theonlyspeciesinthisgenus),Gutierreziaspathulata,Maihueniapatagonica,andmanyspeciesofJunelliathatconvertthesteppeintoa
blueandvioletshowyfield.WewillthencontinuetowardCaviahue,withstopstoseenativeBougainvilleaspinosaandArgyliarobustaamongotherspeciesgenerallyfoundinmontaineareas(scrubforests)ratherthansteppe,andtoseeArgylliabustillosiiandTropaeolumincisum.IntheafternoonwearrivetoCaviahue,averyattractivevillagebyCaviahueLakeatthebaseofmightyCopahueVolcano,withAraucariatreesgrowingonveryshowybasalticoutcrops.WewillbeinCaviahuefortwonights.
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Day9(December8):CopahueandSurroundingsAfterbreakfastwewilltraveltoCopahueatapproximately6500fasl,averysmallvillageamongmanyfumaroles,thermalponds,andastrongsmellofsulfur.Wewillexploretheoldcrater,whichisnowanincredibleflowergarden.HerewewillfindadensepopulationofViolapachysoma(exViolacopahuensis)thesamecolorastherocks.OtherspeciesthatshouldbeinbloomincludeViolacotyledon,Olsyniumfrigidum,Ourisiaruelloides,Calandriniacolchahuensis,Gamocarphadentata,Euphrasiameaiantha,andE.chrysanthaamongalonglistofbeauties.IntheearlyafternoonwewillreturntonearCaviahuetovisitsomewaterfallsamongbasalticoutcropsandlookforMaihueniapoeppigii,Grindeliaprunelloides,andmanymore.Day10(December9):CaviahuetoChosMalalviaElCholarAfterbreakfastwewillleaveCaviahueviaamountainroadforChosMalal.ThefirststopwillbeatSaltodelAgrio,awaterfallthatemergesfromawallmadebyvolcaniccolumns.Agriomeans“bitter”becauseofthewater’ssulfurcontentandverylowpH.Duetothewater’shighcontent
ofsulfurandotherminerals,theriverbankisredandyellow.Manyinterestingspeciesgrowhere,includingRhodophialaaraucana,Chuquiragaoppositifolia,andEphedraochreata.Laterintheday,wewillencountertheNeuquénRiverandwillstoptolookforMutisiaretrorsa,Seneciogilliesii,Violatectiflora,Junelliapathulata,Retanillapatagonica,andmore.ChosMalalisasmallandquietcitywithwatercanalsthatirrigatethestreettrees,smallsquares,andapeacefulatmosphere.Wewillbeherefortwonights.
Day11(December10):VolcánTromenAfterbreakfastwewiilheadtoTromenProvincialReservewiththeTromenVolcanoatthecenter.ThegravelrouterunsalongaveryspecialvegetationhabitatknownasthePayuniaregion.Itisaverydryandwarmregionwithaveryxericconditions.OnthewaytoTromen'sbase,wecrossacoldersteppeandmayexploresomealpinezonesinCerroWayle(optional).Ontheway,wewillpassaverylargewetlandandTromenLake,aparadiseforbirdwatchers.CerroWayleisnotverydifficulttoclimbbutrequiressomeeffort.TherewecanfindViolaatropurpureaamongothertruealpines.Otherwise,therearemanyinterestingspeciesattheslopeofTromenVolcanotoenjoy,suchasOxaliscompacta,Olsyniumchrysocromun,Pereziarecurvata,Montiopsisgayana,severalspeciesofNassauviaandJunellia,andtheendangeredAdesmiapinnifolia,among
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alonglistofspecies.WewillhaveafarewelldinnerinChosMalal.Day12(December11):ChosMalaltoNeuquénandflighttoBuenosAires.WewillfollowtheveryscenicRoute40toZapala.Dependingontimeandconditions,wemaybotanizealongtheroute.TheflightbacktoBuenosAireswouldbeinthelateafternoonorearlyevening.
ItineraryforSouthernPatagoniaExtensionTheSouthernLakesDistrictofPatagoniaisoneofthemostbeautifulplacesinArgentina.Mountains,hugelakes,glaciers,andtheimmensityofalandscapewithfewpeopleandscatteredestanciasattractpeoplefromallovertheworld.Itisalsooneoftheharshestplacestolive,notonlyforhumansbutalsoforplantsandanimals.Thecoldweather,strongwinds,snowywinters,andlocallyvariablerainfallhaveresultedinaveryspecialfloraandfaunathataddbeautyandmysterytotheregion.Mostofthespeciesareverysmallordwarfcushionsbutwithbigflowersorabundantsmallones.Whentheyareinbloom,thearidenvironmentlookslikeparadise.Mostoftheregion’sflowersbloominlateNovemberandDecember,butcanvarydependingonspringweatherconditionsandelevation.Ifthespecieslistedbelowarenotinbloom,therewillbeothersthatwewilllookforandenjoy.ThisisaverygoodtimeforthealpineflowersandLomadelPliegueTumbadonearElChalténshouldbefullofthem.Day1(December12):BuenosAir–ElCalafateTheextensionincludesyourtransferfromtheBuenosAiresairporttoyourhotel,yourhotelroomonDecember11,andyourtransferandflighttoElCalafateonDecember12.ElCalafateisasmallandveryattractivecityvisitedbymanyforeignerswhoareexploringsouthernPatagonia.Wewillhaveageneralorientationtotheareaandshouldhavetimetolookforwildflowersthatgrowinorneartown(orenjoysomefreetimetorelax).Day2(December13):PeritoMorenoGlacierWededicatethisdaytovisitingoneoftheWorld’sNaturalWonders–thePeritoMorenoglacier–andnearbyflora.PeritoMorenoisthethirdlargestglacierintheworld(afterAntarcticaandGreenland).TheroarofthechunksoficefallinginsidetheglacierorfromtheglacierintotheturquoisewatersofLakeArgentinowillcertainlymakethedaymemorable.Duringthevisit,wewillwalkthroughabeautifulforestofNothofagusbetuloides(Magellan'sbeech)thatgrowsonlyinsouthernPatagonia.UnderthecanopyweshouldfindEscalloniarubra,Codonorchislessonii,Gavilealutea,Drymiswinteri,Saxifragamagellanica,andmanymore.Individualspeciesmaynotbeinbloomdependingonspringweatherconditions.
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Day3(December14):ElCalafate–BalconesdeElCalafate–ElChaltén-Afterbreakfast,wedriveuptoaplateaunamedBalconesdeElCalafateorCerroHuilicheforawonderfulviewandtowalkandexploreforflowerslikeOlsynium,Junellia,Alstroemeria,andArmeria.Intheafternoon,wedrivetoElChaltén,asmallandpicturesquevillageatthefootoftheFitzRoyandCerroTorremassifs.Ontheway,wecanstoptoseethewildflowersthatareinbloomandforacoffeebreakatLaLeona,anoldestancia.Ifwearelucky,wemayseetheshowyAustrocactusbertiniiinbloomandmanyJunelliaspp.
Day4(December15):ElChaltén–LomadelPliegueTumbadoThehillsofLomadelPliegueTumbadooffersomeofthebestviewsinthearea,includingFitzRoy,CerroTorre,PasodelViento,andspectacularglacialvalleys.Accordingtothegroupcapabilitiesandinterest,wecanexplorethefloraonthelowerterracesofthehillsortrythesummit,alongbutgentleclimbinscree.Thelowerpartofthehillsarecoveredbyshrublandandforest.Abovethetimberline,thealpinefloraisveryrichandshowy.AmongthespeciesthatwemayseeareOxalisenneaphyllaandloricata,Moschopsisrosulata,Nassauviamagellanica,Pereziamagellanica,Hamadryassempervivoides,theinterestingBolaxgummiferacushions,thehairySeneciocryptocephalus,thefleshyAdesmiasalicornioides,thebeautifulMenonvilleanordenskjoeldii,andmanymore.Itisagoodtimeformountainflowers!WearebackinChalténbylateafternoon.
Day5(December16):ElChaltén–RíodelasVueltas–ElCalafateAirport–BuenosAires ThismorningwewilldrivetheroutealongRíodelasVueltaslookingforspeciesinbloom.ThereareseveralplaceswithbreathtakingviewsofFitzRoyandCerroTorre.ThereareseveralplacesfullofCalceolariauniflora,butthepresenceofflowerswilldependonthespringtimetemperature.WemayalsoseeViolareicheiifitisstillinbloom.Intheafternoon,wedrivetotheElCalafateairporttoflybacktoBuenosAires.
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OtherInformationRelatedtoBothToursGuideandLogisticalServices:MarcelaFerreyrawillbeourtourguide.CaminoAbiertowillhandletourlogistics(groundtransportation,lodging,food,etc.).IfyouwouldliketospendadditionaltimeinArgentinaeitherbeforeoraftertheNARGStourorextension,personnelatCaminoAbiertocanprovideassistance.Lodging:AllhotelshavebeenselectedbyMarcelaandCaminoAbiertobasedonpastexperience.Theyaregenerallywithinwalkingdistanceoftowncenters,restaurants,etc.ExamplehotelsareHosteríaLasMarianasinBariloche,HosteríaPlazaMayorinSanMartíndelosAndes,HosteríaLaBalconadainVillaPehuenia,HotelNevadoinCaviahue,HosteríaPicunRucainChosMalal,HosteríaPuertoSanJulianinElCalafate,andHosteríaPuduLodgeinChaltén.DoublebedsinArgentinaaremostlyqueensize.Meals:BarilocheisverycosmopolitanbutmostofthetownsthatwewillbestayinginhavelimiteddiningoptionsandlocalsspeaklittleifanyEnglish.Breakfastwillbeprovidedatthehotelandgenerallyconsistsofeggs,ham,cereals,cheese,toastedbread,jam,localpastries,fruitjuice,milk,tea,andcoffee.Fordaysweareinthefield,wewillprovideaboxlunchandsnacksusinglocallyavailablefoods.Wewillalsoprovidewaterduringallmealsandfieldactivities.DinnersarethemainmealofthedayformostPatagoniansandtypicallyconsistoflamb,pasta,casseroles,soup,andsalad.Toaccommodatepersonaldietarypreferences,wewillgiveeachparticipantalistofdinneroptionsforreviewandselectionpriortoarrival.Beveragesotherthanwatercanbepurchasedbyparticipantsbasedonlocalavailability.Themaintourincludes11breakfastsandlunches(everydayexceptDay1)and11dinners(allexceptDay12).Theextensionincludes5breakfasts(everyday),4lunches(everydayexceptDay1),and4dinners(everydayexceptDay5).GroundTransportation:Air-conditionedvansorminibusesdrivenbyprofessionaldriverswillbeusedduringthetourandextension.Hikes:Thegoalofthetouristobotanizeandisnotatestofenduranceorclimbingskills.Tourparticipantsshouldbeinreasonableshapeandabletotraverseuneventerrain.Duringthemaintour,wewillgenerallybeatelevationsof1,000-4,000fasl(somehikesmaygoupto6,500fasl).Duringtheextension,wewillgenerallybeatelevationsof600-3,500fasl(somehikesmaygoupto5,000fasl.Weather:WewillbevisitingPatagoniaduringthedryseason,buthighwinds(especiallyinsouthernPatagonia)andrainarealwaysapossibility.Ambienttemperatureswillgenerallybebetween40and70oFinnorthernPatagoniaandbetween40and55oFinsouthernPatagonia.Gear:Bepreparedforvariableconditions.Bringclothesthatcanbelayered,goodrainandwindclothing,andadaypack,aswellasmountainshoes,asunhatthatties,sunscreenandbugrepellant.
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Books:ThebestreferenceisFlowersofthePatagonianMountainsbyMartinSheaderavailablethroughtheAlpineGardenSocietyandotherplaces.ItscompanionvolumePatagonianMountainFlowerHolidaysbyHilaryLittleisalsogreatforanyonewantingtoexplorethisplantsman’sparadise.GroupSizeandPrice:Bothtourshavebeendesignedtoaccommodateupto20people.Pricingisbasedonaminimumof15peopleonthemaintourand10peopleontheextension.Iftheseminimumsarenotmet,NARGSmayneedtocancelthetourorincreasetheprice.SupplementalInformationRelatedtoInternationalandDomesticFlights:ItisexpectedthattourparticipantswillbeflyingintoArgentinafromvariouslocationsandthatsomemaywanttospendadditionaltimeinSouthAmericaaspartoftheirtrip.Tomeeteveryone’sneeds,tourparticipantsareresponsibleforbookingtheirowninternationalflightsintoandoutofBuenosAires.DomesticflightstoorfromBariloche,Neuquén,andElCalafatewillbecoordinatedbyCaminoAbierto.However,itisnotcurrentlypossibletoconfirmflightschedulesorpricesfortravelinNovemberandDecember2020.Asupplementalcostwillbeprovidedtotourparticipantsinearly2020fortheflights(in2019,thecostforcoachclassticketswouldbeapproximately$200forthemaintourand$250fortheextension).Whatisnotincludedinthetourandextensionprices:• Internationalflights• HotelandotherexpensesinBuenosAiresbeforeandafterthetourandextensionexceptas
notedabove• Beveragesexceptthoselistedaboveduringmealsandfieldactivities• Travelandmedicalinsurance• Tipsforguidesanddrivers• Servicesnotdetailedintheprogram
