Beyond the End of the World: Tierra del Fuego

From the seashore to the mountain summits and rugged rock formations: forests, swamps and lakes take turns.


Cutting through the thick underbrush can be a nerve-wracking experience at times.


The tall grass does not make progress any easier.


Fording some of the rivers required multiple attempts - strong currents can always knock you off your feet.


Beavers simply love these surroundings - no wonder they are easily spotted during their evening excursions.


Outside the forests, raised bogs and tundra vegetation offer a perfect environment for plant studies.


A small fire, sheltered from the wind by a large rock, replaces the stove.


Prepared over the campfire with wild-picked berries and ingredients carried in the backpack,
the unique Magellan-barberry-and-vanilla-cream pie is an improvised delight for the taste buds.


The lower plains in the eastern part of the island, which most likely have never been crossed by man, make for a stunning vista.


Occasional spells of winter produce cold feet. The weather during Tierra del Fuego's short summers is mostly chilly and unpredictable.


There is nothing as refreshing as a quick bath in the ocean with a view of Cape Horn (water: 50°F, air: 54°F).


In the evening of day 30, a nostalgic farewell to the wilderness is mixed with fond anticipation of civilization's amenities.