Sara Dhooma

No surprise that I’m still at home during this pandemic. It should be easy to just relax on the couch... but it really isn’t. . Check out my YouTube Channel for a personal update during the pandemic (link in bio).

Live long and prosper! . Photo taken in Antarctica during my 2020 Patagonia Adventure. Incredibly happy I was able to take the trip before the pandemic locked down the world. . Stay safe everyone! Continue following your local guidelines. Peace and long life. 🖖🏽 . . . . . . . . . . . . #antarctica #antarcticadventure #oceanwideexpeditions #llap #vulcansalute #livelongandprosper #trekkie

Waking up beside Lake Viedma on the fourth morning of the Huemul Circuit. . This was the last time I slept in my tent - about one month ago. . Video of my final day trekking in Patagonia Argentina is up on my YouTube Channel (link in bio). . . . . . . . . . . . . . #huemulcircuit #huemul #elchalten #patagoniargentina #patagoniatrekking #argentinaturismo #argentina🇦🇷 #trekkingargentina #solohike #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #womenwhoadventure #sunrise #sunrisehike #lakeviedma #lagoviedma @sixmoondesigns #parquenationallosglaciares

Day 3 on the Huemul Circuit started out alright. The trail is unmarked so I played a guessing game at junctions like this. I ended up turning left and not going down to the little lake. . The climb up Huemul Pass can not be taken on windy days. The wind seemed manageable at the bottom. . The trail wove itself steeply up the slope with an extreme drop off. Then the wind turned monstrous. I was picked up off the ground and was slamming hard into boulders. I had to fight to move in my desired direction. I’ve never been thrown around like a rag doll before. Many times I almost went flying off the cliff edge. Thick thighs save lives! . Immense respect for Patagonia winds. I don’t know what the wind speed was that afternoon, but it is routinely 60-100 miles per hour at that pass! . YouTube for Day 3-Huemul Circuit is up (link in bio) . . . . . . . #huemulcircuit #huemul #hikingargentina #argentina #argentinaturismo #trekkingpatagonia #solohike #solohiking #huemulpass #windyhiking #trekkingargentina #hikingpatagonia

Tunel Glacier in Argentina. You are not my friend. . On the second day of the Huemul Circuit last month I got lost for 90-minutes. The moraine was very slippery with no defined trail. I was riding sliding boulders like a surfboard. Hiking and climbing near glacier crevasses is probably not wise to do solo. Next time I trek on a glacier I am going to bring a friend! . Video for Day 2 was posted yesterday on my YouTube Channel (link in bio). . . . . . . . . . #huemulcircuit #huemul #glacier #glacierhike #hikingargentina #argentina #argentinaturismo #trekkingpatagonia #solohike #solohiking #womenwhoadventure #womenwhoexplore #womenwhohike #salomonwmn @salomon @sixmoondesigns

The Huemul Circuit is one of the few hikes to offer views of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. . It is the Southern hemisphere’s largest expanse of ice outside Antarctica. This marvel has over 60 glacier outlets, is 350km long, and covers 13,000 square km. . Only 4% of the ice sheet that covered most of Chile and Argentina remain today from the last glacial period (18,000 years ago). . The ice field looks desolate and brutal. It is one of the least-explored mountain regions in the world. . I was very fortunate last month to have a good weather window to hike the Huemul Circuit. This is truly one of the most amazing places on earth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . #huemulcircuit #huemul #southernpatagonianicefield #hikingargentina #argentina #argentinaturismo #trekkingpatagonia #icefield #solohike #solohiking #womenwhoadventure #womenwhoexplore #womenwhohike #salomonwmn @salomon @sixmoondesigns

If you look closely you can see me on a wire crossing the Rio Tunel. Day two of the Huemul Circuit involves a Tyrolean traverse (zipline). . I was unsure if I could complete the Huemul Circuit because there are two Tyrolean traverses deep in the wilderness. This trek is rated as the most demanding (and beautiful) trek in Argentina Patagonia. I had to try! . I thought the rental shop would give me instructions on how to use the climbing harness. Nope.... the attendant said she didn’t know how. So I read about it online and watched a YouTube tutorial. 🤷‍♀️ . When I hiked up to the crossing, the pulley was stranded in the middle of the line, and I couldn’t reach it. I put on my harness, sat down, and waited for someone to arrive. . I was relieved to see a French family (older couple and young couple) hiking towards the traverse. All the family members were very experienced mountain climbers, had extra rope, and reassured me everything was going to be easy. . First we worked as a team to transfer our backpacks across the line. When it was my turn to cross I was super afraid. I did not trust my rented equipment or the pulley. . I have terrible arm strength and it was difficult to pull myself upwards once I crossed the halfway point. When I reached the rock, the younger couple helped me unclip safely so I didn’t tumble down to my doom. . I was scared out of my mind and the French family thought it was hilarious. Seeing them smiling and laughing put me more at ease. The crossing was a success and I had acquired a new skill! . Video of ‘Day 2 Huemul Circuit’ is on my YouTube channel (link in bio). . . . . . . . . . . . . #huemul #huemulcircuit #riotunel #firsttimer #tyroleantraverse #patagoniargentina #elchalten #argentinaturismo #trekkingpatagonia #patagonia2020 #hikingpatagonia #visitargentina #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #parquenationallosglaciares #womenwhoadventure #salomonwmn @salomon

My first camp on the 4-day Huemul Circuit. This area is super windy so previous hikers have built ‘nests’ out of logs and rocks. It was kinda fun to choose a nest to fit my tent. . Fluffing up my Katabatic quilt in the fresh air before crawling into my bed. Despite the howling wind, I easily drifted to sleep while feeling warm, safe, and comfortable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #huemul #huemulcircuit #patagoniargentina #argentinaturismo #trekkingpatagonia #patagonia2020 #hikingpatagonia #visitargentina #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #womenwhocamp #solohike #katabaticsawatch @katabaticgear @sixmoondesigns

Last month I completed the challenging Huemul Circuit. This demanding trek was banana-crazy! The park rangers issue a permit only after watching a mandatory presentation (meant to frighten!). The rangers also quizzed my past trekking experience and equipment. Solo hikers are highly discouraged... I was very happy when my permit was approved! . The first day was deceptively chill with a straight-forward route through a glacial river valley. The following three days.... well... things got crazy. 😱 . Day 1 video is up on my YouTube channel (link in bio). . I could not believe I saw random cows at the foot of the Cerro Huemul. Totally reminded me of the #continentaldividetrail . Some great #cdt2019 memories came back! . . . . . . . . . #huemul #huemulcircuit #hikingargentina #hikingpatagonia #trekkingargentina #trekkingpatagonia #solohike #solohiking #womenwhohike #womenwhoadventure #womenwhoexplore #patagoniaargentina #cowsofinstagram

Hiking along the shoreline of Laguna Madre e Hija (mother and daughter lakes) with Fitz Roy in the distance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #fitzroy #madreehija #elchalten #hikingargentina #hikingpatagonia #trekkingpatagonia #solohike #trekkingargentina #womenwhohike #womenwhoadventure #womenwhoexplore #salomonwmn #salomonsquad @salomon @sixmoondesigns

Early morning totally alone at Laguna De los Tres, the foot of Mount Chaltén. This is the closest view to the granite wall of Mount Fitz Roy. Propped my iPhone up on my backpack to take the photo. . See the video of my second day in the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares on my YouTube Channel (link in bio). . . . . . . . . . . . . #fitzroy #hikingpatagonia #hikingargentina #trekkingpatagonia #trekkingargentina #parquenacionallosglaciares #lagunadelostres #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #womenwhoadventure #solohiking #mountainlove #elchaltén

Trekking towards Fitz Roy through an area flooded by beavers. Thanks for the planks! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #fitzroy #hikingargentina #hikingpatagonia #elchalten #trekkingargentina #trekkingpatagonia #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #womenwhoadventure #solohike #salomonwmn @salomon @sixmoondesigns

Just ten minutes up the Fitz Roy trailhead is this view. Most people hike to the base of Fitz Roy as a day hike. I combined the trail with Cerro Torres for an epic overnight trek last month. . Day 1 video of the Fitz Roy trek is up on my YouTube channel (link in bio). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #fitzroy #cerrofitzroy #elchaltén #hikingpatagonia #hikingargentina #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #womenwhoadventure #solohike @sixmoondesigns

The last time I went hiking was on March 22nd. The next day my local parks and trails were closed. . Rough times continue for all hikers and adventurers in the coming weeks. Please stay positive, keep healthy, and follow your local guidelines. . I have more Argentina Patagonia hiking videos and photos to post up. Please keep in mind that I’m currently at home in Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . #shadesmillsconservationarea #hikingontario #dayhike @sixmoondesigns @salomon #socialdistancing #youradventurecanwait

Gorgeous smooth and glassy water for a Zodiac cruise through Paradise Harbour. Amazing conditions to weave between icebergs and spot wildlife. . Afterwards we landed at Stony Point to visit Gentoo penguins. There was an option to hike up a hill - but the swimming penguins along the shore were too cute to leave! . Our afternoon landing was cancelled due to high winds. I chilled with Humpback Whales and a beer on the outdoor deck. . See the YouTube video on my channel (link in bio). . . . . . . . . . . #antarctica #antarctica2020 #antarcticadventure #oceanwideexpeditions #paradisebay #paradiseharbour #zodiaccruising #icebergs #bucketlist #tripofalifetime