EXHILARATING FREEDOM
What better way to experience the Andes of Argentina, Chile and
Bolivia than to weave though them by mountain bike? Chris Goulet not
only hauls along three weeks of supplies through remote high passes,
but also his entire high-altitude mountaineering gear and reaches the
summit of Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, and
solos Nevado Ojos del Salado, the loftiest active volcano on Earth.
Unsponsored and without outside support, he cycles on through surreal
landscapes in absolute desert and across vast salt flats. More
difficulties
await in the steaming tropical rainforest.
His unique equipment and techniques allow dreams to unfold. This account takes you though the epic with the emotions of an explorer: fascination, determination, anxiety, and with the bonus of exhilarating freedom.
Chris Goulet has cycled over 80,000 kilometers and climbed in several countries. His thirst for adventure has also taken him on canoeing, kayaking, rafting and even pedalboating expeditions on remote lakes and rivers. His home is in Alberta, Canada where he works as an electric power station operator.
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Route maps
Powerfully Attractive Projects
Introduction and preparationsWow!... The Andes
Montreal, Canada-Santiago, ChileSea-Level Toe
to Pacific Ocean coast-Valparaiso-SantiagoCyclo-Andinism
to Puente del Inca, ArgentinaThe Real McCoy
to Plaza de Mulas base camp-Aconcagua summit-Puente del IncaRed-Tape Hurdles
to Mendoza-La Rioja-FiambalaRemote Feelings
across Puna de Atacama to Cazadero Grande-Paso de San Fransico-Hosteria Murray, ChileEyes of the Spirited
to Ojos del Salado summitFleeting Friendships, Part 1
to Refugio Andino-Hosteria Murray-Copiapo-Antofagasta-San Pedro de AtacamaFleeting Friendships, Part 2
across Altiplano to Licancabur summit-Laguna Verde, Bolivia-Laguna Colorada-Ollague, ChileVast Salar Experiences
across Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia-Salar de Coipasa-OruroCity Life
to La Paz-La Cumbre de YungasSticky Rainforest Memories
to Caranavi-Guanay-Mapiri-ConsataThe Long Way Home
to Sorata-La Paz-Santiago, Chile-Montreal, CanadaThe Explorer-Adventurers
Reflections on explorers and adventurersAppendix: The Equipment
References
Please write your comments in the
Guestbook
Although this expedition was entirely unsupported and unsponsored, I still must thank the citizens of the world past and present for having invented, developed, produced and distributed all the equipment, supplies and services that made it possible.
For the composing of this book, I thank John Adanasoff in particular for his major role in the development of the computer, which evolved to the capability to run sophisticated word processors with spelling checking, thesaurus and grammar checking.
Most of all, I am deeply grateful to the Sacred Creator for having granted me a very fit body allowing the freedom of self-propulsion. Thank You also for having set the physical laws so that nature could achieve the very natural wonders that were the main object of these travels. I urge my readers to preserve this planet, by promoting limits to human population and consumption of resources.
Copyright 1996-2005 by Christian Goulet
Questions, comments, corrections, and additions are welcome. Please sign the guestbook or e-mail me in French or English at: chris_goulet at yahoo dot ca. (e-mail address is anti-spammed).Access statistics for this page since November 8, 2004:
Last updated: Jan 07, 2008