Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego prides itself on being the southern most town in South America. It looks very much like a frontier town in the Rocky Mountains. It is outside of Ushuaia that the Andes dive into the ocean to become an underwater mountain range. The region around Ushuaia is a outdoors paradise, with hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and other sports available nearly year-round. Carolyn took advantage of a shore trip called Trekking in Ushuaia to get some exercise and fresh air. During the 3.5-hour trek some 40 avid hikers struck out across a mud bog, through a hillside forest, into another valley, and then back to the warming hut where tea, sandwiches, and cakes were served.

The trek's route led east across this valley, skirting the dead woods,and headed toward the hill in the upper right.

The Nunatak Warming Hut. Here we donned knee-high rubber boots suitable for mud-bogging. We were warned that the mud in some of the bogs we would be crossing was up to a person's knees.

The peaks in the background made a beautiful backdrop for our hike.

We made our way out of the forest, back to the bogs and past this tranquil and lovely beaver pond.

We traversed fern forests here...

...and here.

Upon Carolyn's return to the ship, who should be waiting but Mark! He had spent the day relaxing on board ship, and moseyed into town in the afternoon in search of an Internet cafe — which he found and used to catch up on email. At $2.00 per hour (USD) it was a lot cheaper than the $0.75/minute the shipboard Internet cafe was charging for Email access!

With high hopes and lots of pent-up energy after 4 days at sea, we set off on the hike. First we ambled along the crest of a forested hill that led down to the first of several bogs.

On the other side of the bog valley we ran across the first of several beaver dams.

Mud-boggin'!

It was great to see some fall colors in March! The trees and ground covers were just starting to change in some places and in others they were in full riotous color! The first snows had already fallen, and from the smell of the air, it was pretty clear that it would be snowing again soon!

At last we returned to the hut, shed our boots, coats, hats, backpacks, and cameras for the promised after-trek tea time! Everyone was tired but happy and we spent the next half hour comparing notes about our experience! The lady in white is an avid hiker from Tasmania.

This was our last view of Ushuaia as we departed for Punta Arenas, Chile.