My name is Lark Gardner and I first traveled to Bariloche in 2009 as a participant on a mountaineering training with the Outward Bound School. I’ve been living here for over ten years doing a lot of personal exploring and working as a kayak guide, english teacher, massage therapist, and a few more odd jobs.
I’ve been living in Bariloche for 10 years and every time I set out to check off a box on my adventure wish list I come home with 3 new ideas. In that way this place is a never-ending outdoor playplace which is why I am so grateful to call it my home. Below are photos of some of my most memorable escapades.
Bariloche and the surrounding landscape feels like a never ending outdoor play place. The town sits on the shore of Nahual Huapi Lake which is HUGE. I’ve been exploring the branches and bays of Nahuel for years and always had the idea reserved in the back of my brain to circumnavigate the entire coastline in one go via kayak. I had various good reasons why I hadn’t yet completed that idea given the nature of unforgiving stretches of coast in which you cannot disembark, extremely dynamic weather, and a annual average water temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Recently a few stars aligned: an ideal partner appeared (Cheri Harris), the time window existed, the forecast was…acceptable.
We launched from Bahia Serena heading East. Our rules were to follow the entire coast including paddling to the end of each named branch on the lake. We covered 220 miles (more or less) in 14 days. We paddled every day though two days were extremely low mileage because weather demanded it. We had one resupply of food & fuel at our halfway mark in the North end of the lake near the small town of Villa Angostura. Personally I was captivated by the three branches on the North end, partly due to the fact that was the only part of the lake I had not yet seen, partly because they are pure magic. 100ft shear rock walls drop strait into the water, Hitlers alleged escape home on the beach, abandoned fruit orchards hiding just past the shoreline, and turquoise water that looks like it should belong in Thailand. I do not exaggerate in my description of Nahual Huapi Lake, this place is indeed magic and I feel truly blessed to be able to call it my home and continue to be captivated by its charm and hidden gems even after 10 years of exploration.