The Knight´s Legacy

The Valdivian Rainforest

The zone is covered with lakes and hills, and the problems would begin as they approached the mountains range despite they are not very high in this region.

Finished the discussions, Matías introduced an issue that he thought that it could be thorny.

“I have felt free to invite to join us the son of the beloved friend of grandfather Pedro, a geologist named Knopf. He is involved in this whole adventure as much as we are and barely escaped being kidnapped in Buenos Aires by the same people who attacked me in Rio. Juan has personal reasons to join us.”

A strong discussion followed these statements. Other members did not want to incorporate members that that were not part of the family, and whose reasons to participate were not ultimately clear.  Lautaro overturned the balance.

“My father frequently spoke to me of Dieter Knopf. He had absolute confidence in him, and he even mentioned his son Juan. I think that he would have permitted  Juan to join us. I vote to include him.”

The expedition departed two days later having made stock of food and carrying tents and other camping elements, since the members would have to spend several days outdoors exposed to changing weather. Juan Knopf arrived that afternoon with his mountain gear. José decided to take his old rifle as a precaution.

“There are pumas in the area.” He argued. “ …and they may attack the mules.”

Juan said that he was also carrying a pistol.

“I believed that Buddhists were opposed to arms “ Matías said sarcastically.

“We are opposed to violence, but everybody has the right of self-defending.”

Lautaro had experience in camps and José was an expert on rural life in the area, what gave the group some security, since the possibility of setbacks could not be excluded in advance.”

The little expedition had already exceeded the Lagos Pueblo area and was approaching the border with Chile.

The travelers passed in front of a National Gendarmerie post where they requested information about the road conditions. The post, a shallow tin roof and masonry building, was in charge of a Sergeant of surname Kowalski, a tall, robust and ruddy face man, accompanied by a young recruit.

“I advise you against to go on; it is no longer trekking season, and you will not get very far with the vehicle.” Replied the Sergeant. Seeing that his words did not dent into travelers he asked.

“ But what really leads them to move forward?

Lautaro improvised an explanation of circumstances, but it was clear to all that it did not sound  convincing. However, the non-commissioned officer apparently accepted it, perhaps having delimited his responsibility complying with his obligation to prevent them against taking risks. Anyway he had no authority to stop them. After a collation and sharing some mates with the troopers they decided to go ahead without delay, while the good weather conditions still prevailed.

A couple of hours after leaving the police station, they had left the vehicle at a ranch where they had rented seven mules. All this had been agreed previously by José with the rancher, an old acquaintance. The scenery had changed from a lake landscape into a typical Valdivian rainforest, these strips of variegated and exuberant vegetation extending from the Chilean West side to the Argentinean East side of the Andes Mountains under the influence of  humid winds blowing from the Pacific Ocean.

The caravan continued several hours its way in the dense cold forest, surrounded by a fine spray that at times turned into a mist.

At one point José stopped and meditatively observed the  landscape; after a few minutes he pointed in the direction of the mountains on one side, saying.

“Here is where we leave the forest trail and climb over the hills. It is in this area where the real hard part begins.”

Indeed the rise on the mountains slopes became very laborious, both for human beings and for the rustic mules. They slid repeatedly on slopes, lost their course in the rocky fields, rolled down the hillsides and writhed their feet on the stones of dry riverbeds. Advancing one kilometer became a torment, and the autumnal night fell very quickly on the travelers turning it dangerous to walk in the pale light of the waning Gibbous, so they decided to camp. Although they could get enough dry wood to light a fire, the night was very cold. Debbie´s  teeth shivered so she decided to move on to Matías` sleeping bag to share the animal heat of both. Soon after cuddles started forcing José and Lautaro to pretend not to notice them while Juan exhibited a complicit smile. It was the last pleasant moment of the entire expedition.

As they woke up in the morning they were stiff with cold. Watching around them confirmed that they were at a great height over the neighboring valleys. A steep and narrow cornice road stretched ahead of them, while  dark low clouds looked threatening. After having a frugal breakfast  and overcoming the morning drowsiness they rushed over the cornice, wide enough just for the mules legs. Debbie had to overcome her natural vertigo and systematically avoided to look at the depths that opened up on their right side. In this way advanced by about an hour making however little progress. The path was resolutely headed upward and soon the travelers began to leave some shreds of clouds below them. Very quickly a deep fog covered the road, making it impossible to advance. They were caught up as if they were in a layer of cotton, which did not allow them to see their hands. An intense cold penetrated their clothes and their teeth began to chatter. The mules snorted under the weight of their burdens and the slope of the road. At one point, José gave the order to stop immediately where each one was and hold mules by the reins.

“How long will we have to be in this way?” Asked Debbie restless.

“Not less than two or three hours.” Was the tough response.

Suddenly one of the mules nervously shook and escaped from Lautaro´s hands, the man had to release the flanges to avoid being pulled by the animal. Immediately a frightening noise was heard as the poor animal fell in the abyss below. This convinced the expedition members not to move a muscle until the conditions changed.

Time spent with maddening slowness demanding an extra dose of patience to the travelers. Particularly the young couple could barely overcome the growing anxiety for being immobilized at high altitude and not knowing for certain if the next involuntary movement would lead them to the abyss. It took much more than one hour, time in which the closure became even more intense, until finally soft wind gusts began to circulate partially dissipating the fog in the higher parts of the mountain. Although clouds were still compact in the valleys, the road outline was weakly drawn in front of the caravan. Since he wanted to prevent that night found them in the middle of the cornice José, who led the march decided to keep walking, even with great care since the rock floor was covered with slippery lichen. A painfully slow progress continued for another two hours physically exhausting the five adventurers and particularly to their nervous systems. Finally, just around a bend, the road expanded notably, just when the first shadows were shed on the mountain slopes. They walked another stretch along the path, until it disappeared widening in an ample stony field. They stepped up until the expedition was protected from a vertical rock wall, which allowed them to set up camp in a protected place. This precaution would be providential that night. Exhausted, they set a small fire with whatever  dried organic material was available in that sea of stones. They ate frugally and surrendered to sleep, after the stressful day lived.