Coastal adventures

Well, things are finally coming together. On Saturday night, Andrew and I camped out at the lighthouse at Cabo Virgenes, which offers guidance to ships about to take the Strait of Magellan to the Pacific Ocean. Heading north from the straight, there is a roughly 60 km long continuous stretch of 50 – 20 m high cliffs that are entirely composed of glacial sediment. This is quite possibly one of the main shining jewels of my dissertation. Previous researchers have mapped the limits of multiple glaciations on the surface, using topographic maps and photos taken by planes and satellites to distinguish landforms (like moraines) that suggest the oldest glaciers extended to the ocean, and younger ones maybe not so far. However, here at the coast, the cliffs offer a slice into the earth, exposing the layers of sediment lain down through time. I hope to sort out which layer belongs to which glaciation, and maybe even say something about where along the glacier the sediment was being deposited. Was it at the edge? Was it at the base? Were there lakes? Landslides off the glacier face? I’ll let you know in a few years!

Me, walking along the coast (photo credit to Andrew LaCroix). These cliffs go on for 50 kilometres (that's 31 miles for you Americans :) Totally exciting.

Our hike went well. We were very lucky to have a nearly cloudless sky, warm temperatures, and very little wind. We hiked quickly, enjoying some exercise of both the physical and mental variety. I made a lot of exciting observations that made it difficult to turn around at our set return time. It’s always easy to say “well, we’ll just go around this next corner!” Luckily, the threat of rising tides is quite effective in influencing such decisions.

Andrew, earning his keep.

I have exciting news. My supervisor, John, and my committee member, Rene, are now back in Rio Gallegos from their field work in the Andes, along with our Argentine colleagues Hugo and Bettina. Hugo has some contacts here in town, and has managed to secure the rental of two ATVs, a trailer for them, and the use of a hut by the lighthouse at Cabo Virgenes that is owned by the local university. Tomorrow we will check out of our hotel and drive back to the coast, where we will spend Thursday and Friday ripping up the coast on four wheels! That 60 km stretch of cliffs doesn’t stand a chance. I will report back after our adventure, hopefully with lots of photos and stories of good weather and even better science.

Until then, amigos!

Moonrise over the Cierra de los Frailes volcanoes, seen driving back to Rio Gallegos after our trek.