Chilean Strike is over!

The past days a major strike was going on in the Magellan area in southern Chile. A gas price increase caused huge protests among the population which resulted in a general strike and road blocks for almost 10 days. Many tourists were trapped in Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine. There was no way in or out of that region in Chile. Many people walked back to Argentina negotiating their way through the roadblocks.

However, a solution was found while we were trekking in Fitz Roy and it seems that after Bolivia we will manage to avoid the second strike during our trip! So tomorrow we are off to Puerto Natales where we will spend two nights to rest our legs and prepare for the trek in Torres del Paine. We are still in our time schedule and if the weather holds up, the condition of the backcountry in Torres are confirmed to be good by the park rangers, then we will set off for a 10-day, 105km trek.

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Der Streik in Chile ist vorbei. Nachdem die Erhoehung der Gaspreise durch die Chilenische Regierung in der Magellan Gegend von Suedchile zu massiven Protesten und Blockaden gefuehrt hat, wurde nun eine einvernehmliche Loesung gefunden. Somit koennen wir wie geplant nach Chile einreisen. So wie es aussieht haben wir wohl nach Bolivien den 2. Streik waehrend unserer Reise geschickt umgangen.

Morgen geht um 8h30 der Bus nach Puerto Natales, wo wir 2 Naechte bleiben werden, um uns zu regenerieren und den Torres del Paine Trek vorzubereiten. Wenn die Bedingungen gut sind, werden wir ab dem 23. Januar fuer 10-12 Tage und 105 km zu Fuss um das Torres del Paine Massiv unterwegs sein.