Trekking through South America: Across the Andes

[jim]

This thread is all about Gregg and Deia's journey through South America, as featured at Across the Andes: Trekking through South America.

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A WORD OF INTRODUCTION

I first met Gregg Treinish in the mountain town of Breckenridge, Colorado. I was recently returning from my own two year trek around the world, and Gregg had his flat feet as a result of thru hiking the hundreds upon hundreds of miles on the Appalachian Trail. During my own voyages I was always enthralled by the travelers I met along the way who were willing to do something different, the ones who dared to cut their own path, and as a result the ones who had the best stories to tell. When Tom Thumb approached me about starting a 'rougher' travel guide website - Roadjunky.com, it was this same curiosity about unique journeying that led me to take him up on the task.

When Gregg told me his plans to hike through the Andes all the way into Patagonia I knew two things - one, that he'd actually go, and two - there'd be a lot of real obstacles on his way. I had done my share of climbing and trekking in the area (including Cotopaxi and much of the highlands in Peru). It is rugged country, and frankly the poverty of the people - while keeping them genuine, poses its own dangers. Moving through mountains anywhere, by foot, is tricky. Doing so on another continent requires pluck and bravery. Luckily for Gregg and Deia they have both.

We have been very happy that Gregg and Deia have featured the tales of their trip on Roadjunky, I've opened up this thread on our forum to help the friends and loved ones commenting and following their adventure understand what these types of travels mean to us as a broader community that share spirit of the heart.

[theTRAVELmaven]

Are they really walking to Tierra del Fuego? that's quite a far way from Ecuador. summers are short south of Bariloche/Puerto Montt. It's a 1000 miles from there to Ushuaia - so they're going to have time it right on and be down to San Carlos de Bariloche by January latest...

[deia_schlosberg]

On the timing of the seasons thing: we researched it plenty and are well aware of our small window. We could be manic and get through every trek to make it south exactly on schedule, but we´re preferring to live for the day and cover as many kilometers as possible a day while still stopping to investigate things that call to us. If it means taking a hiatus for a season to work and save up some money and then continuing south when the weather gets better, then that´s what it means. The main purpose of this journey is to experience a continent and it´s cultures as well our interactions with and growth from them. We want to fully LIVE every day of it. It´s good to have goals, and it´s also good to be flexible when the moment calls for some greater tangent. We do plan to make it all the way, however.

And Jim, thanks so much for your words and for setting up this forum in the first place. Roadjunky is very kind to us.

[jim]

Photo project

Hey Junkies - I wanted to bring to your attention this photo project that Deia is running this November 3rd... All it will take is a camera and some awareness, and it'll give you something to talk about with your friends...

[jsim]

some really nice trekking pictures on the blog. good work.

makes me feel like going for a prolonged trek. maybe the alborz in iran or santiago de compostella

[jim]

Congratulations Greg and Deia. The Across the Andes trek won adventure of the year recognition from National Geographic: http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/...inish-text

[markymark]

Did she not see the proposal coming?

[jim]

Hmmm I wonder if she DEMANDED it.

[Wilkerson]

Hi all, well.... I don't have any words to say but I also just want to say congratulations to Greg and Deia. Good job!