Trekking South America!

Image by trekSA

The following is a list out lining the kind of hiking gear I’ll bring with me on Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine National Park hiking trail ( 21 days trip ). This list is not meant to be prescriptive. Please feel free to discuss hiking gear with us if you have any questions.

- backpack , DEUTER 65+10

- 3 waterproof bag SEA TO SUMMIT , 2L  , 13L  and 35L

- day pack SEA TO SUMMIT

- 1 sleeping bag NORTH FACE ( goose down feathers , -10 C )

- 1 sleeping bag  FIRST ASCENT ( goose down , 0 C ) , linner

- 1 camp mattress PACIFIC OUTDOOR - blow-up mattress

- trekking boots LA ESPORTIVA KARAKOM

- 2 pairs of trekking socks

- 2 head torch PETZEL TIKKINA and PETZEL eLITE ( emergency )

- 2 tops , thermal (wool + polypropylene)

- 2 bottom , thermal

- 1 fleece

- 1 Bennie and 1 balaclava

- 1 hat

- 1 pair of glove BLACK DIAMOND

- 1 goose down jacket NORTH FACE

- 1 waterproof jacket NORTH FACE Goretex

- 1 waterproof pants CAPE STORM Goretex

- 1 quick-dry trekking pants CAPE STORM

- 1 shirt

- 1 sandal CROCKS

- sun glasses

- trekking poles BLACK DIAMOND

- 1 durable water bottle 1L NALGENE

- 1 water bladder of 1.5L CAMELBAK

- 1 lightweight trek towel SEA TO SUMMIT

- 1 personal toiletries ( small tooth-brush , small amount of tooth-paste )

- 1 SEA TO SUMMIT iPOOD ( dig holes ).

- 1 camera NIKON COOLPIX

- 1 lightweight personal medical kit

- 1 lightweight cooking pots MSR TITAN set

- 1 Titanium Spork

- 1 lightweight Small cup

- 1 set of NALGENE small plastic bottles

- 1 lightweight stove MSR POCKET ROCKET

- 1 lightweight tent BIG AGNES SEEDHOUSE SL 1

- 1 tent footprint

- 1 space blanket

- 3 Harnesses and 3 Carabiners ( group safety )

- 1 LEATHERMAN

- 1 SWISS KNIFE

- 1 SAS SURVIVAL GUIDE book

- 1 GARMIN GPS geko

- 1 Map of Los Glaciares and 1 Map of Torres del Paine

- 1 iPOD ( iTOUCH 32 GB )

- 1 Small kit repair

- 1 Money Belt

The aim of the Harvester’s Lunch is to celebrate our natural bounty by eating it…….in a special way. It also celebrates all the folk in this unique little borough who buy into that old adage “local is lekker”. All the food we eat is harvested locally, grown or caught and prepared in or as close to our own kitchens as possible. The Harvesters Lunch highlights the importance of protecting the incredible ecosystems that support our plants and awesome beasties as well as encouraging and supporting those age old skills of harvesting, food preparation and cooking.

The hunter and gatherers  prize ( kalzoni) of this year went to Guilio for his awesome whole wheat flat bread , the wheat was harvest and turn into flour by himself  , amazing commitment to the spirit of gathering !

Fantastic way to start 2012 !

The quality of soccer was very impressive , nice to see  Scarborites of different age group getting together and having a lot  FUN !

Thanks  the organize team for another awesome day in the beach !

Looking forward to next year !!!!

Twenty tourists had to be evacuated from the Torres del Paine national park in Chilean Patagonia following the outbreak of a forest fire that has extended to over twenty hectares because of strong winds and difficult access for fire-fighters, reports the local press.

The tourists were camping in a refuge just two kilometres away from the fire which was first reported last Tuesday, next to the Grey Lake along a 60 degrees slope which makes the task of 80 fire-fighters extremely perilous according to a release from the Chilean National Forestry Corporation, Conaf.

The fire was located next to a tourist path and although the cause has not yet been clearly established it is believed a campers’ bomb-fire not properly extinguished and with the help of strong winds had much to do with the incident.
Given the slope many of the fire-fighters and CONAF members have had to approach the burning slope from the lake in Zodiacs but the winds are proving a formidable enemy.

The regional Emergency Office from the province of Ultima Esperanza where the park is located has declared a “red alert” and described the situation as “very complicated, almost critical”
Support has been requested from the Chilean Army and the nearby mining town of Rio Turbio in Argentina.
Jonathan Donaide from the Emergency Office said that winds blowing at over 80 kilometres per hour are making the task of fighting the fire “extremely difficult”.

Torres del Paine Park with over 242.242 hectares is one of the most visited in Chilean Patagonia.
In February 2005, a fire by a careless Czech tourist wiped 13.880 hectares of native flora, causing a major catastrophe.
A camping gas store not properly used by Jiri Smitak sparked the fire. He was arrested and sentenced but apologized and begged for pardon. He was finally set free but the Czech government later financed the reforestation of the destroyed area.

The smoke from the forest fire can be seen from the park’s administration’s office 35 kilometres away.
Vicente Nuñez head of Chile’s Ministry of Interior Emergency Office said tht the regional civil protection system has been activated on the field with all the operational coordination needed to confront the emergency”.
A Twin Otter is over-flying the area to assess the situation and keep track of the fire.
Nuñez said four forestry brigades, two from Torres del Paine, one from Punta Arenas and another from Puerto Natales are involved in the operation.

Following huge success of the Beach Football Challenge last year ! We are delight to announce the 2nd Scarborough Football Beach Challenge :

- Where : Scarborough Beach, Sunday 01 JAN 2012, kick off at 4 pm. Weather permitting  !

- NO entry fee ( MAHALA ).

-If you like to be a helpers or donate a price for the winner team : please contact Elena at 0825845830 or [email protected]

-Early registration contact : Kelson at 0217801130 or [email protected]

While the soccer goes on let’s have a family get-together and picnic. Dogs, children and parents are welcome – but please keep under supervision so they don’t disrupt the competition.Bring your own picnic basket, water and chairs and shade if needed – umbrellas if not too windy

See you all  ,  Events like these do wonders to boost community spirit!

The Rules ; 3 a side Football

1. Pitch will be approx 20-25 metres long and 8-10metres wide. The goal will be approx 2.5 metres wide and be about knee high.
2. Players over 10 years old  ( otherwise only with parental consent and organise team ).
3. Kick off at the halfway line and the same for every subsequent  K.O
4. i.e. after a goal.
5. If the ball goes out of play the game is restarted at the touch line by foot (no throw ins).
6. Deliberate use of any part of the arm from the elbow down will result in a penalty, as will any serious foul (trips, obstruction etc as per the rules of the game).
7. Penalties will be taken with an open goal from the penalty spot,…….to be determined.
8. It is hoped all the games will be played in a sportsman like manner, no abuse of the referee’s decisions will be tolerated and very serious fouls could result in a player being sent to the sin bin for a period of 2 mins.

We’ll supply:

• a Bedouin tent for shade (and maybe to hide from the south-easter).
• a small field for children to play.