Day 654 – South America – Argentina [Polvaredas to Uspallata]

04/02/22

41.5km

  From Polvaredas (Argentina) to Uspallata (Argentina)

South America

What a difference a good night sleep makes! And a splendid run through the Argentinian Andes

Early morning light on the Andes

I woke up this morning feeling rested. Good. My dislocated finger was very swollen, a bit painful and unable to bend. But I reckon it will be healed in a few days. As for the bruises and cuts on my leg, I could barely feel them. Good then, I was set for a great day! We drove all the way back to my re-start point in Polvaredas, the road was very beautiful and quiet in the morning.

Colourful mountainsides

I enjoyed the smooth downhill in the morning light. This part of the Andes has been described by Darwin in his “Voyage of the Beagle” (which I also mentioned when I passed through Concon north of Valparaiso). Here he wrote about the geological phenomenon and the colors of the mountains. I ran past the “mountain of the 7 colors” which indeed was stunning. That and running along the Mendoza River all the way, a very brown river, with a very narrow flow compared to how big its bed is, cut in the rocks all along.

A sign by the roadside…

The Upsallata Valley was part of the 6,000km long “Inca Road” (Camino del Inca) in times of the Inca Empire. An impressive engineering achievement which allowed the Inca control of the Bolivian, Peruvian, Argentinian and Chilean territories. In the 1970’s the modern road was built, following mostly the old Inca trail. I was very surprised to see the old Inca ruins completely unprotected and exposed, barely marked. I would have expected greater care to be taken of that historical treasure.

Runwise, I was rationing my water as I knew I wouldn’t meet a single village or pitstop on the way. James was away cycling along some mountain dirt tracks near Uspallata, so I had to count on myself. I had only packed a peach with me which I ate early in the run and felt very hungry the whole way. We met in Uspallata when I arrived and sat down for a grilled lemon chicken and a bottle of Andes beer. Well deserved if you ask me!

A chilly start in the shade of the big mountains
Uspallata scenery

Tonight we enjoy our last of 2 nights in Uspallata, a very pretty, lush, green village at the foot of the Andes. It is quite a sight, really, coming down from the arid mountains and being met by this very green little oasis on a plateau at 2000m altitude. Courtesy of the Mendoza river and some sort of micro climate.

Enjoy the video of today’s run: https://www.relive.cc/view/v36AgB3LQGv

Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: