A touch of green

Route 9 north of Salta

In the last article, I was in San Antonio de las Cobres and had intended to discover several other places in the high mountains of Argentina. However, I had some health problems. Nothing too serious, but an unpleasant situation nonetheless.

On several occasions I had nosebleeds. I was at altitudes where altitude sickness can frequently cause problems, but this was not the cause as confirmed by two visits to village clinics. They checked my blood pressure and the oxygen level in my blood. Everything was perfect.

The problem was relatively simple. The very dry and cold climate of the Andes highlands caused irritation in one nostril and subsequent bleeding. On a motorbike, I was even more exposed to the elements, and this problem is very common with travellers who leave from sea level and a humid climate and head for the Argentine puna. As soon as I got back to Argentina, I headed for the mountains and my body didn't adapt to this hostile climate.

Finally, after several nosebleeds, which were quite copious, I decided to leave the high mountains and return to the lowlands. From San Antonio de las Cobres, I descend towards Salta. In these photos, I'm now at an altitude of around 1,200 metres. The heat and humidity are back and I've gone from a desert ecosystem to a forest. Green is really beautiful!

Campo Alegre Reservoir

Termas de Reyes

Potrero de Yala Provincial Park

Camping at Yala