4-Xtremes – Part 70: Ancient trees and a breathtaking backdrop

Series: 4-Xtremes – The World Tour

Extensive detour.

150 million-year-old tree trunks that look like they were felled yesterday: a tour of the Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo National Park.

Just felled? No, ancient! You can still identify many details on the petrified trunks in the BosquesPetrificados de Jaramillo national park.
Just felled? No, ancient! You can still identify many details on the petrified trunks in the BosquesPetrificados de Jaramillo national park.
Just felled? No, ancient! You can still identify many details on the petrified trunks in the BosquesPetrificados de Jaramillo national park.
Just felled? No, ancient! You can still identify many details on the petrified trunks in the BosquesPetrificados de Jaramillo national park.

We have spent the past few weeks of our journey to the “end of the world” near the coast. It’s time to take a detour to the interior of Argentina! More specifically to the Bosques Petrificados de Jaramillo National Park with its petrified trees.

For orientation purposes: we are now around 2,000 kilometres south of Buenos Aires in the province of Santa Cruz.

Like so much in Argentina, the national park is quite extensive at over 130 square kilometres.



Scattered into the landscape.

Calling the petrified trees just “impressive” would be an understatement. Some of the trunks, scattered in the barren landscape, are up to 35 metres long and three metres in diameter: And that’s just the main part, without roots and branches.

The fossilisation happened about 150 million years ago and the trees are said to have been around 1,000 years old at that time. And yet, details such as growth rings and knotholes are clearly visible. Sometimes you have to look twice to make sure that the tree is really petrified.



A detour becomes a long detour.

We are so excited about the harsh environment that we decide to extend the detour. We want to follow the road through the national park and only rejoin Ruta 3, the main route to the south, after 300 kilometres. The national park ranger asks several times if we have enough diesel and supplies and can rescue ourselves if necessary. The reason being is because we wouldn't meet anyone.

We feel prepared – and we do not regret the decision for a moment because the landscape is breathtaking. First the road leads towards an extinct volcano, then on to a plateau. Time and again we see herds of guanacos. In the evening, we encounter foxes – and maras: relatives of the Guinea pig, unlike foxes, are very skittish.


We spend three days on the remote route. We explore caves and dried up river beds, enjoy sunrises and sunsets. Every evening, Mike checks below the Axor briefly and tilts the cab to make sure everything is in order. No surprises so far – we hope the journey continues that way!


4-Xtremes – The World Tour.

An unparalleled journey.

Andrea and Mike Kammermann have been on tour in their Axor for three years. "4-Xtremes – The World Tour" is the motto of the journey that the two Swiss nationals embarked on in mid-2020 and which they share with the RoadStars community. Keep up to date and don't miss out on any of the stunning destinations visited by the adventurous pair.

You can find the current parts from the “4-Xtremes – The World Tour” series here.

You can find the route of the trip before the crossing to South America here.

 


Photos: 4-Xtremes

10 comments