Grant 'Axe' Rawlinson

Walking the Beagle Channel

—

by

Grant ‘Axe’ Rawlinson
in

During April 8 – 9, 2005 I walked a section of the coastline along the Beagle Channel down into the town of Ushuaia, located in Tierra del Fuego in Southern Argentina.  We were actually trying to cross the Beagle channel to Isla Navarino (belonging to Chile), and attempt a challenging walk called the Dientes circuit, however could not find a way over (there is no ferry service).  So we settled on this trek instead which turned out to be a nice walk.  We took a taxi for 90 peso for 1.5 hours from Ushuaia then  walked back along the coastline for two days. A total straight line distance of over 48km, as measured by my GPS so a little longer as you follow the coastline.  I am not aware that this trek even has a name.  The beauty of the Beagle Channel on one side and the snowy mountains of Ushuaia on the other is pretty amazing.

Enjoy the photo’s below.

Setting off along the trail, the Beagle Channel on one side and the snowy mountains of Tiera del Fuego rising above Ushuaia on the right.
Setting off along the trail, the Beagle Channel on one side and the snowy mountains of Tiera del Fuego rising above Ushuaia on the right.
The trek passes many abandoned estancias (ranches)
The trek passes many abandoned estancias (ranches)
One of the many smaller and very chilly stream crossings
One of the many smaller and very chilly stream crossings
Our campsite beside this old barn
Our campsite beside this old barn
We managed to get a fire going inside the old barn and had a very comfortable evening
We managed to get a fire going inside the old barn and had a very comfortable evening
Walking along the rocky foreshore
Walking along the rocky foreshore
An eagle?
An eagle?
Thomas route finding through a forested section
Thomas route finding through a forested section
Crossing a stream on a fallen log
Crossing a stream on a fallen log
Overlooking the Beagle channel
Overlooking the Beagle channelb and Isla Navarino which belongs to Chile on the other side.  We really wanted to get over here to try a challenging trek called the Dientes circuit.   
Ushuaia in the distance
Ushuaia in the distance
The final campsite on day two
The final campsite on day two

Comments

8 responses to “Walking the Beagle Channel”

  1. Therese Kapaun Avatar
    Therese Kapaun

    The eagle is a southern crested caracara. Wikipedia has a nice description of the bird with photos. In the late 90’s I was trekking around Tierra del Fuego and got a job working as an English speaking tour guide at Estancia Harberton, which is along the eastern coast of Ushuaia. When no tourists were at the ranch, I helped some grad students from Buenos Aires pick up the bones from dead sea mammals and assemble them as skeletons, then we’d ship them off to universities. A year later I was working on passenger ships to Antarctica, the Falklands, and South Georgia from the port in Ushuaia. The pilots for the shipping channel through the Beagle were based at Estancia Harberton.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Grant Rawlinson (Axe) Avatar
      Grant Rawlinson (Axe)

      Hi Therese, thanks very much for pointing that out about the bird! I checked it out on wikipedia also : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Crested_Caracara
      It sounds like you know Tierra del Fuegio well. I did another nice walk there called Paso de Oveja – see the link here to that. I am wondering if you did that?

      Paso de Oveja

      Like

      Reply
  2. Ray Lloyd Avatar
    Ray Lloyd

    Hey, Axe! This was the year we met — in Mendoza, remember? I too did a trek along the foreshore but from the opposite side of Ushuaia along the Beagle Channel. Spectacular views over an untouched part of the world. The bus journey down from Punta Arenas was also quite an adventure. Would like to visit there again one day, but keep it quiet, as we don’t want the hoards to know of these delicately balanced ecological havens. Ciao –xR

    Like

    Reply
    1. Grant Rawlinson (Axe) Avatar
      Grant Rawlinson (Axe)

      Hi Xray, yes that was the time we met. I did not know you walked it as well! Beautiful spot alright. Very rugged part of the world! Hope all is well in aus!

      Like

      Reply
  3. val Blount Avatar
    val Blount

    Thats interesting. I went through the English Narrows in 1961 in HMS Leopard an English Royal Navy anti aircraft frigate. We stopped at Punta Arenas before heading through and up the Westcoast. Returning to the Atlantic through the Panama Canal. Do you collect “Climbing Books”? Regards, John.

    ________________________________

    Like

    Reply
    1. Grant Rawlinson (Axe) Avatar
      Grant Rawlinson (Axe)

      Hi John, wow that was awhile ago! What a beautiful part of the world and I am sure by ship traveling up the coast you saw it from a unique and beautiful angle also. Yes I do collect climbing books John and immensely enjoy reading them. Hope you had a happy easter in New Zealand!

      Like

      Reply
  4. Alastair Humphreys (@Al_Humphreys) Avatar
    Alastair Humphreys (@Al_Humphreys)

    Happy memories…

    Like

    Reply
    1. Grant Rawlinson (Axe) Avatar
      Grant Rawlinson (Axe)

      Sure is Al 🙂

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to val Blount Cancel reply