Chilean dinner

Putting into practice once again what we learned with chef Gonzalo Lara at Cafe Vinilo in Valparaiso, Chile. They are on Facebook here.

We've prepared Ceviche a la Chilena (using Walleye and fresh Mozarella for the vegetarian version) for the starter. Then we made Pebre - an awesome, ubiquitous Chilean salsa - that we are using to marinate the main  comprised of slow fried tofu strips and baked bell peppers stuffed with quinoa, mushroom and zucchini.

Desert will be arriving with one of our guest. Pictures will be posted once everything is plated :)

Patagonia Trip Planning

This map image covers much of the territory we are contemplating exploring further in about 2 years from now along the spine of the Andes.
We've spent about 5 weeks in Patagonia so far: first time in 2007 when we went to the small town of El Bolson, Argentina after our trek to Basecamp at Aconcagua and then all of December 2010 as part of our 3 months Andean trip spanning Peru, Bolivia and Chile.
I am scheming already: can we live there - trekking and climbing mountains - for 3 months again? More boldly, how can travelling become what I do?

Meanwhile I am putting pre-requisites in place:
I'm continuing my Spanish studies begun in early 2010 at UNAM. And we are looking into training re: independent mountaineering skills. We also want to spend some time in the Adirondaks for winter ascents of some of the High Peaks. And we are checking into ski trips to the mountains of Colorado.

More than dreams.

180 South = Trip planning!

We just watched this awesome movie on DVD. There are a few stars in it but none greater than Patagonia itself. I love Patagonia.

I learned that there's a new park about to open to the public: Conservacion Patagonica. Who's behind this new park? A couple of Americans; one who once was a blacksmith, climber and surfer and started first Black Diamond and then, well, Patagonia, and the other the chap who started The North Face and later ESPRIT.

The footage in the movie is everything I have ever seen and loved about being in Patagonia. And, it conspires  with some trip planning: we have begun to think about climbing Aconcagua and when you go that far south it's only natural to want to spend a little more time ... and it is an objective that will take some training to do well.

Meanwhile, check out this movie to see for yourself what it is all about.

Larger than life

That's the tourism tag for the Yukon. It's pretty accurate as far as even my limited travels affirm. Check out another big thing or two from the Wildlife Preserve.

Yukon Wildlife Preserve

The YWP has quite a few large mammals. More pics later but here's one to start with.

Driving the Alaska Highway

For a few kilometers anyways :).

It's a gorgeous sunny day here. Snow's been falling and a few patches even now have not had enough warmth from the sun to melt away.

It's quiet out here. Few people around in this stunning scenery.

Valley and cliff tops

I was up for sunrise this morning. It's -5 and foggy in downtown Whitehorse. When I drove up to the airport there were stunning pink clouds mingling with the rising sun and clear skies. Turns out the fog just hangs down in the valley for a while.

Today I am planning on heading up on the Alaska Highway a bit and then visiting the Wildlife Preserve about 25 minutes from town.

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry.

Sculpture in Whitehorse

There's all manner of public art in this town. Here are 3 distinctive examples: two are outside the Yukon Arts Centre where I'll be attending the Western Canadian Music Awards show this evening.
The third is outside the Transportation Museum near the airport, which is just moments from downtown.

Daylight in Whitehorse

Whitehorse is north of 60 and its days are quite a bit "shorter" than in Ottawa. Sunrise today is at about 8:45 am for 10 hours of daylight. In December the shortest day will have about 5 hours of daylight.

With shortening days the sun doesn't rise very high: this picture shows the sun at noon yesterday. And the snow's been flying.

The Yukon River runs through Whitehorse on its way to Dawson City and Alaska. It's a fast moving river that is used for travel by boat, canoe, kayak and celebrated in the other Yukon Quest each June.

Canada's highest mountain, Mt Logan, is just west of Whitehorse in the St Elias mountain range which is part of Kluane National Park.

Unlike NWT and Nunavut, there are a few roads that connect remote parts and the Dempster Highway even reaches to Inuvik, NWT in the Mackenzie Delta near the Arctic Ocean.

There are plenty of adventures to be had here. Nature truly is big in Canada's northern territories. I'd love to come back here with Jan and with lots of time to hike, paddle, climb and meet the local people.

Whitehorse's awesome Burnt Toast Cafe

I just got to Whitehorse after being cooped up in my Edmonton hotel for a day and a half in meetings and trying to keep my cold at bay.

The cold's not getting any better. But with our downtown Whitehorse, YK location I did take a stroll along some city streets and while at the local liquor store got a dinner recommendation that indeed was to die for.

The pics speak for themselves: Oktoberfest sausage with blue cheese and garlic mashed potatoes, pulled pork tacos and this Peanut butter pie with whipped cream and strawberries for desert.

The Burnt Toast Cafe is awesome: awesome staff, great food, excellent vibe and at a totally reasonable price! I'll be back before heading home on the 25th :)

Plus, I'll have a bit of time to explore. the city and area quite apart from doing work.