56 The team is psyched. It’s time to go. Rucksacks are encouraged onto backs, packed with climbing and bivvy gear for the one-night weather window. Ahead is a three-hour hike through ancient forest with 800m vertical height gain to the base of Cerro Trinidad, one of several snow-capped 900m granite mountains visible from camp. The first leg of the journey involves a river crossing. A steel cable Tyrolean complete with a suspended wooden basket and nylon pull cord makes life easy (and exciting), as we help each other safely across. Hiking poles clink along the stoney riverbank, against the ethereal flow of ice-cold meltwater, as the path leads upvalley before a sharp turn-off into the trees. Before long we are greeted by some of the oldest living things on Earth – Alerce (Patagonian Cypress) trees estimated to be in the region of 3,000 years old. They are around 50m in height and a distinctive red bark covers their 3m-diameter trunks. The team stops for a moment to appreciate their natural beauty and simply stand in their presence as the morning light grows throughout the forest. Pictured this page: Cochamó Valley with Cerro Trinidad (1,720m) on the left and La Junta campsite in the bottom right-hand corner. Photo: Kevin Kilroy MOUNTAIN LOG COCHAMÓ EXPEDITION
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