Group Education Program offered: Leadership Course, Orientation Course, Environmental Service Course Activities: Mountaineering, backpacking, rock climbing, sea kayaking, service work, initiatives and workshops Minium Age: 16 years old Time of Year: December - May Capacity: 1 group of 12 students Minimum Course Length: 7 days Course Start Location: Bariloche, Argentina for mountain-based courses or Puerto Montt, Chile for sea-kayak based courses (Outward Bound does not provide travel to and from the course start location.)
Expeditioning Through Patagonia
Patagonia offers a truly spectacular environment within which to experience one of Outward Bound's Group Education Programs. Expeditions can take you high into the mountains, or sea kayaking through deep fjords where the Andes plunge into the sea.
Courses of 21 days or longer can include travel in both the mountains and the sea. All courses include time doing service work with the local community
The varied terrain of the Cerro Tronador region challenges your crew to learn and practice a variety of mountaineering skills. Learn the basics of backcountry travel and food preparation as you hike alongside the blue-green waters of the Rio Blanco ("white river" in Spanish). Feed your eyes with endless stretches of sky, majestic snow-covered mountains, icy masses and shimmering lakes. Search for a glimpse of the Andean condor and miniature pudú deer. Meet local people and see ancient temperate rainforests as you explore routes through pristine river valleys. Receive fresh supplies brought in on horseback by a "gaucho," a local horse rancher. Build competence and knowledge each day as you and your crew prepare for a final student-led expedition.
Cerro Tronador (11,450ft) is the largest mountain in the region, with glaciers, ice slopes and permanent snowfields. The varied terrain of its flanks allow you to develop and apply new skills. Practice snow climbing, step kicking, ice-axe use and self-arrest. Travel in a rope team. Practice team glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Learn about crampons. Set up snow anchors and exercise craftsmanship as you tie and apply knots. Become a knowledgeable belayer, building trust with your crewmates as you belay and climb. On courses of 14 days or longer, your mountaineering experience culminates in a summit attempt of Cerro Tronador. Relish in the views from high on the mountain as you stare down into the temperate forests of Chile.
Work alongside locals during a service project such as building houses, digging potatoes and visiting local high schools. Experience the exchange that naturally happens when people from two cultures work alongside each other, even if they don't speak each other's language.
Sea kayaking expeditions start out on the protected waters of Hornopiren, where the Andes meet the Pacific Ocean. Pack everything you need in your sea kayak. Work on your forward stroke and self-rescue skills while keeping an eye out for dolphins and sea lions. Survey your surroundings for important landmarks. Shoot a bearing with your compass. Circle up around a chart to determine your location, keeping in mind that successful wilderness expeditions require collaboration from the whole group. Then paddle hard to your next destination.
Natural and Cultural History
Patagonia is a semi-arid plateau that covers over 250,000 square miles and located mainly in Argentina and extends to parts of Chile. The term Patagonia came from the word Patagone - a word 16th Century Spanish explorers used to describe the native Tehuelche Indians. There are several interpretations of how the region was named. According to one interpretation, the Tehuelches were a race of very tall people with very physically developed physiques, so the Spaniards called them Patagones, relating them to a giant named Patagon, a very popular character in novels of that time.
There are three different areas of Patagonia: Andean, Atlantic and Central. Our courses take place in the Andean area of Patagonia. December and January are summer months in Patagonia, which means warm temperatures during the day and cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings, with occasional stormy periods. The low temperature during these months average 60-75 degrees and the highs average 75-95 degrees in places.
This area is one of the least populated regions in the world, with a density in some places of only one inhabitant per square kilometer.
The original population of Patagonia consisted of Native Americans from different South American tribes. They were nomadic and lacked any sort of central government. The people who reside in Patagonia now are known to be very friendly and helpful, although they usually speak very limited to no English.
Chilean people maintain strong cultural traditions, particularly in the Andean foothills. More than 90% of the population is Mestizo (half-Spanish and half-Indian). Spanish is spoken almost exclusively, although a few native dialects are still used in rural areas. Chileans are generally very hospitable and frequently invite foreigners to their homes.
Courses of 21 days or longer can include travel in both the mountains and the sea. All courses include time doing service work with the local community
Sea kayaking expeditions start out on the protected waters of Hornopiren, where the Andes meet the Pacific Ocean. Pack everything you need in your sea kayak. Work on your forward stroke and self-rescue skills while keeping an eye out for dolphins and sea lions. Survey your surroundings for important landmarks. Shoot a bearing with your compass. Circle up around a chart to determine your location, keeping in mind that successful wilderness expeditions require collaboration from the whole group. Then paddle hard to your next destination.
Patagonia is a semi-arid plateau that covers over 250,000 square miles and located mainly in Argentina and extends to parts of Chile. The term Patagonia came from the word Patagone - a word 16th Century Spanish explorers used to describe the native Tehuelche Indians. There are several interpretations of how the region was named. According to one interpretation, the Tehuelches were a race of very tall people with very physically developed physiques, so the Spaniards called them Patagones, relating them to a giant named Patagon, a very popular character in novels of that time.