April 13
Hey y’all! This is Annika and Bee here.
We have had an exciting and eventful trip so far, with dazzling views, cold nights, stunning campsites, broken stoves, and, most importantly, amazing food.
The first couple of days were spent in Coyhaique and traveling to the Patagonia Frontiers ranch. We had our first cazuela, a delicious traditional Chilean soup and a favorite of Col’s, in Coyhaique. We enjoyed shopping at the huge Unimarc and staying in our last beds for a while at the Maria Ester Hostal. We also met our wonderful guides, John, Oliver, and Nelley.
We departed Coyhaique on an early morning bus with exquisite views of the scenery, though most slept through the ride. In Puerto Bertrand, we camped in Señora Mirella’s yard and ate the life-changing sopapillas she made for us before finally departing for the ranch to begin backpacking.
The boat ride to the ranch had some of the best views any of us had ever seen, with the bluest lakes, the most majestic mountains, and a brisk breeze on our faces.
We began to see more of the Soler Valley as we departed the ranch and started our backpacking journey. The hiking was fairly easy, being mostly flat, but river crossings, cold temperatures, and frequent rain showers made things more challenging. Kaleb was leading the pack when it came to river crossings. The overall positive attitude of our group members, especially Gretta and Soren, helped keep our spirits up. Levi and Cora’s jokes kept us laughing on the trail, while Tryg’s extensive nature knowledge taught us more about where we were.
When we met Felix, our academic lead, we began learning about glaciology, which Mitchell was deeply interested in, even asking for further reading. When we cooked our hard-earned dinners at the end of long days, Xav created some super yummy meals. When the meals were less yummy, we could always count on Henry “Patty” to finish them for us.
We stayed at several different camps, where Gavin made many pancakes and tasty sauces. Though we didn’t make it to the Glacier Camp because of high rivers, we were still able to see stunning views of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. The Forest Camp was like something out of Lord of the Rings. We drank clear, clean river water and ate edible berries along the trail.
Our goodbye to the Soler Valley was bittersweet, as we said farewell to the amazing crew at Patagonia Frontiers and took off our backpacks.
The group ran to the convenience store after we returned to the front country and delighted in a heaven of Chilean snack foods. We ate another delicious breakfast at Señora Mirella’s and then headed to Puerto Río Tranquilo.
We explored the town and had more lessons with Felix, where we examined tree cores that we took from Cacho Ranch while backpacking.
Today, we kayaked in the famous marble caves, and we can’t wait to see what happens next!
April 10
Student Shoutouts:
Bee – Hey everyone, missing you all a lot! Backpacking was so fun and I loved the valley. can’t wait to see you all, especially huddy!!! love, bee
Soren – Love you friends and family; I’m having a good time here in Patagonia, been thinking about you guys a lot, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, especially you Dad. See you in a week, love you guys.
Mitchell- Mama, Father and maybe Ian – Zeus clutched up upon our return to civilization making everyone including me pretty happy. Currently writing to you guys with a very full stomach in Puerto Rio Tranquilo along with some yogurt and granola in front of me, love you guys and can’t wait to see you when I get home. Love, Mitchell
Kaleb – Hey Mom & Dad – I’m having an amazing time and miss you guys tons. I can’t wait to see you guys. I love you so much. Can you please bring my dog with you when you pick me up? Love, Kaleb
Henry- Hey Mom, Dad, and Oliver- I’m having a great time here, and the backpacking was super fun; I can’t wait to return, and I miss you all. Perchance when I return, could you have some lobster bisque from Whole Foods? I love you all so much, and I can’t wait to return; it will be so good to see you, and I can’t wait until I get back. Sincerely, Henry Patten P.S. Is there any chance you can bring my laptop down with you, along with the right chargers; Also tell Oliver I miss him, but just a little bit.
Xav- I’m alive still not sick mostly fully fed and having a good time, I miss all of you so much, I am so happy Seb got into Southampton also can you please order sushi garden to the house so we can eat sushi and watch a movie when I get back. Love you all bye.
Gavin- Hello mom, dad, Liam, Lola, and atlas. Chile is so sick and we’ve seen and done so much cool and crazy stuff and I can’t wait to tell you guys about it. Arizona will always be winners in my heart and we should’ve played Bryce James. Love you guys and tell grandma I love her and I also there’s a Dave’s hot like 15 min from our hotel, just in case. Bear down, See ya soon
Col- Hi mom dad and family, friends Chile has been super fun. The 12 day backpack was super fun, unfortunately we could not cross the river to the glacier but it was sunny for the last 5 days which was amazing. I look forward to seeing you guys and please bring food. Love you guys.
Cora- Dear family, I’m having a great time in Chile, and the backpacking section was fun and the views were amazing, especially once it stopped raining. I have already had a lifetime of grits and oatmeal, although the backcountry pancakes and pizza were amazing. I miss everybody, my car, music, and Navy (especially since I can’t pet any of the dogs here) I love you all <3
Levi- Hi mom, Hi dad, I miss you and cannot wait for Belize. We are having lots of fun in Chile right now and just got done with backpacking. I love you and I’ll see you in a week. (Also Gavin and I were hoping for Dave’s hot chicken in Denver)
Gretta- Hey Mom, dad, and Charles. Chile is great and I’m having a lot of fun. The mate is really good and might be better than the energy drink. Love you all and can’t wait to see everyone; say hi to Mags!
Tryg- Hello Mom and Dad, the trip has been going well. Socially doing good, the class has been nice. Miss you and love you so much.
Annika- Hello mother and father, the trip has been splendid, and I thoroughly enjoyed the backpacking section. I would love it if you could bring me a pack of gf double stuff Oreos upon my arrival. Love you and deepest regards.
April 9
We’ve arrived in Puerto Bertrand and are transitioning into the front country portion of the trip. After time in the backcountry, we’re all looking forward to getting cleaned up and heading out to dinner tonight.
Service is still a bit spotty, but tomorrow we’ll take a bus to our next location. We plan to have students handwrite a few blog posts on the ride to summarize the trek, so hopefully we’ll have better connectivity to share those soon.
The backpacking trip was a great experience overall. Everyone faced some challenges, but we also had plenty of sunny days and fun along the way. Students got creative with cooking, many learned how to make bread in the backcountry.
They’ve also been practicing their Spanish in local shops, and our guide John says this is one of the most confident Spanish-speaking groups he’s had in a while.
More updates soon!
-Dylan and Ali
March 31
A quick Garmin message came through from our Global Studies students in Chile: “All good here… bad weather! Made pizza on the fire, have wet feet, everyone happy.” It says everything. Stormy skies and soggy boots but still, a fire, a shared meal, and plenty of smiles. And in the end, that’s the goal: not perfect conditions, but meaningful experiences, together. Photos will come once they’re off the trail but for now, this snapshot says it all.
March 24
We’re happy to share that our Chile Global Studies group has arrived safely in Balmaceda, Chile! The group has met up with their local guides from Patagonia Frontiers and everyone is in good spirits. We’ll keep you updated throughout the trip as students immerse themselves in learning and exploration. The lengthy trek for the majority of their trip means their communication to back home will be brief check-ins and not necessarily long blog posts.
We appreciate your understanding.
March 17
Our students are heading to Chile, a country defined by dramatic landscapes and deep cultural roots, from the towering Andes to vibrant urban centers and remote communities.
But this journey is about more than geography. It’s about understanding the relationship between people and place. Students will immerse themselves in new environments, engage with local perspectives, and reflect on how culture and landscape shape one another.
Through this blog, you’ll get a front-row seat to their experience,. Following along as they navigate new challenges, build connections, and uncover stories that can only be understood by being there.
Stay tuned!