Our New Friends Experience

Feb. 26, 2006 - Cruce de los Andes
Cesar and Ale: Thanks again for all you did for us during our stay in Argentina. the great time we had was in no small way due to you. the support and everything else could not have been better. here are my pictures from the vacation. time to start training for next year.

Marty

Feb. 26, 2006
I decided to visit Argentina due to the endless outdoor adventures, and the great weather in the winter months (Dec-Feb). I had heard of Quest Patagonia through a local adventure racing club, so I thought I would contact them to get ideas on what to do in Argentina. Ale and Cesar provided me with a wealth of local information, which would have taken me countless hours of research to gather.
Upon arrival in Bariloche, Cesar had set up an awesome white water rafting trip through the Andes. This was truly an amazing experience. We then spent a full day mountain trekking with Ale and Cesar, and had the time of our lives. Nothing could compare to the views at the top of the mountain, and jumping in a waterfall on the hike down was quite memorable! Cesar and Ali provided us with some great recommendations to visit other areas in Patagonia, and they proved to know the country (and available adventures) very well!!!
I can't wait to return to Patagonia. The experiences where amazing, food was excellent, people very friendly, and the trip was very affordable. Thanks Quest Patagonia, and I look forward to my return!!!“From the day we decided to go to Patagonia to the day we left Argentina, the Quest staff was devoted to making

Tucker Jones

Feb. 21, 2006
“From the day we decided to go to Patagonia to the day we left Argentina, the Quest staff was devoted to making sure we had an unforgettable experience! Quest’s help with planning before our arrival and throughout our stay allowed us to get the most out of our vacation and focus on just having fun. Quest’s very personable approach is what makes them stand apart. After spending just a few days with the Quest staff I knew I would have life-long friends in Patagonia. I can’t wait to go back!”

ED BURNS

Dec. 17, 2005
Thanks cannot express my gratitude to Quest Patagonia. As part of the US Masters 100K Team competing in Patagonia, I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing service of Quest Patagonia. Prior to our arrival all of the accommodations were booked and a massage therapist was set up to work on any of us. They picked us up from the airport and made sure everything was perfect at the hosteria. The choice of accommodations was terrific, and the pre/post race massage was the best! The staff accompanied us to all the pre race meetings and festivities to translate. Then on race day they traveled throughout the course to crew our team. After the race they drove us to the Hosteria and made sure we were comfortable. They provided assistance with various options for activities in and around patagonia. The day after the race the staff at Quest Patagonia treated us to a tour of the beautiful lake region and some out of the way spots only known to locals. It was awesome. We picnicked on a beach, saw the sunset over the lake from atop a peak, at dined on the lake at a hidden restaurant. Could I have gone to Patagonia without Quest Patagonia? The answer is yes, but the experience would have been lacking. Quest Patagonia's service and attention to detail is second to none!!!! They are athletes and know how to cater to athletes. I cant wait to go back!!!

Amanda McIntosh
Team USA, World Masters 100K Champion.

I had the privilege to have had Quest Patagonia as the USA World Master Team travel experts. Myself and the other team members were guided through the travel to and from Patagonia as well as getting us a beautiful Hosteria at a very reasonable rate. Having Quest Patagonia's help was invaluable for us. We didn't have to make decisions as to where is the best place to eat or what is the best way for us to get around safely. We were treated to a look at their beautiful area they live in. They love their country and it shows in how they presented it to us. From wonderful forest, clear blue lakes and streams to a beautiful sunset on a mountain top.As the evening drew to a close we were treated to a wonderful meal at a quaint local restaurant. A heart felt THANK YOU goes out to Quest Patagonia Travels. I hope to be back!

Dee Dee Grafius USA Team 100k member

Feb. 27, 2005
The moment that I stepped off of the plane, any worries that I had about racing in a foreign country in which I didn’t speak the language immediately disappeared as I saw the smiles that waited to greet me upon my arrival. I had expected to be picked up at the airport, but I hadn’t expected to be welcomed with such warm enthusiasm and happiness by the staff of Quest Patagonia - it was like a homecoming rather than an arrival.

While Quest Patagonia helped us to prepare for the race, I met my racing partner, Laureano, and, despite the language barrier, we instantly became friends. A short run together and I was convinced that we would be great teammates. As each day passed, my excitement for the race grew. Upon arrival in San Martin de los Andes for the pre-race briefing, I was able to appreciate all that Quest Patagonia had already done for us and would be doing over the next few days. Those teams without support crews were busy loading gear boxes with tents, sleeping bags, food and other items they would need for camping during the race. Transported by race management, each racer would have to set their own camps each night after the run – a task that is logistically exhausting after already being physically worn out. For both Quest Patagonia Teams I and II, we would not only have camp already set for us, but a hot meal (and more smiling faces) as well.

In the end, I may not be able to speak the language of Argentina, but I gained a new understanding of the universal language of athletic competition. Sports have the ability to transcend borders and to bring people together through a common goal. Quest Patagonia Travel & Adventures not only organized the perfect experience for the racers, but they also provided the logistical and, more importantly, the emotional support that made this event so successful. Every detail was given careful attention and carried out with genuine enthusiasm. Their compassion and generosity was incredible, and I doubt that I could an equal anywhere else in the world.

Julia Pollock

Nov. 09, 2004
Dear Cesar and your Quest company team.
It's been several weeks that I have returned to the US and I still find myself often thinking about the wonderful time I had Villa La Angustura and the Patagonia mountains. For me it was a perfect experience, a combination of meeting new people, beautiful scenary, snow capped mountains, running up and down the mountains, exciting night hiking, fast mountain biking, good food and wine, and special attention from you and your staff. Your Quest team far exceeding my expectations facilitating a wonderful vacation and paying attention to all details.

You were even able to get me tickets to the Teatro Colon in BA when seemingly there were no tickets available.

I can't wait to come again for more adventure and fun.
My heart-felt thanks to you and your team.

John Schwabe

Nov. 12, 2004
Quest Patagonia provided planning, accomodations, support, and hospitality for my travels down to Patagonia which was only outsized by the lands mountains, lakes, and culture.  Cesar and the rest of the personnel at Quest Patagonia treated me like a friend not a customer.

Joe Moerschbaecher

Nov. 20, 2004
…I'd never been to Patagonia, but had always planned to, and this looked like a great excuse. Plus, I work for United Airlines, so getting down to B.A. was not a huge expense. My good friend, Kim, had spent about 3 weeks in that area once, loved it and encouraged me to go. I have to admit, though, the offer seemed a little too good to be true. So, I decided to check it out.

The "Argentina Connection Dude" turned out to be Cesar Torres – a mid 40's, athletic, owner of Quest Patagonia Travel & Adventures, a new adventure travel agency in Villa la Angostura, a small town about an hour north of the Barliloche ski town. Bariloche is where the EcoChallenge Patagonia of 1999 was based. I talked to Cesar on the phone to see what this offer was all about. He said he wanted to get some `greengos' (my word, not his) down to Patagonia to see how beautiful it really was. Though still a little skeptical, I decided to go for it! Adventure!!!

The race was to be held on Sunday, Oct. 31st, starting and finishing in Villa la Angostura. I flew from B.A. to Bariloche the Thursday before, with Cesar there to greet me at the airport and take me to Villa la Angostura. That gave me Friday and Saturday to explore. I rented a bike and spent most of Friday exploring the dirt roads and
trails that take you to some pretty spectacular rivers and falls.

Patagonia is well known for not only its beauty, but also its rain. It rains a lot! The area actually reminds me a lot of the Olympic mountain range in the Pacific Northwest – lots of lakes surrounded by wet, jagged peaks.

There ended up being 3 of us Greengos down there – myself, Joe Moerschbaecher, and John Schwabe. Joe is from South Carolina (or one of those Carolina's, anyway), I believe. He's about 24 years old and just raced the Primal Quest with Boulder's own Ben Nachtrieb for Team Gerber Legendary Blades. That guy is hilarious and can eat like no
one I've ever seen. John is 50 something and is an ultrarunner from the D.C. area. The loop course was a mix of about 12K or singe track, 5K of pavement, and 25K of dirt (mud) roads with a total elevation gain of about 6000 feet. All but the last 5K (the paved road back to town) wound through forested areas up in the hills and a ski area outside of town. We were told there were going to be 500 runners, but only about 375 showed up at the rainy starting line.
It had pretty much rained every day we'd been there, and the only difference on race day was that it was raining even harder than normal. Temperature was good, though – somewhere in the upper 50's. The course was awesome! It started out on the shore of a lake, then immediately headed into the hills. Joe took off with the front runners and I never saw him again until I caught up with him about half way up the first of two major climbs next to a beautiful water fall. We chatted a little, then I left him, sprinting down the other side of the hill, hoping to put enough time between us to not have to worry about him again. I didn't know how close I was to being run down until I crossed the finish line, only to have Joe finish a short 2 minutes behind me! He told me afterwards that each racer he picked off, he'd hoped it would be me. Another kilometer more and it would have! As it turned out, I finish 7th overall (1st Master) in 3:34:10 and Joe was 8th, in 3:36:14. John……well, he was back there somewhere enjoying the view! So, we did America proud with 2 of us in the top 10.

Anyway, overall, it was a great experience! The race was well organized and you can't beat the scenery! Another good thing about traveling Argentina is the dollar is very strong there. You can get very decent lodging there for $30 a night, and did I mention the food? If you're a meat lover, it's the place to go! You can get a meal for $5.00! And Cesar………. He was the best! Initially from Mexico, he lived in the States for about 20 year, then visited the Patagonia area a few years ago. He fell in love with it and decided to move there, which he did about a year ago, and started the Quest Patagonia Travel & Adventures. Cesar truly is just a great guy out there to have fun and show people how beautiful the area really is.
I consider him a friend now. He's helping organize a 90K 3-day stage race going from Argentina to Chile over the Andes in February. If I can swing it, I'm going to try to make that one, too. If interested, you can contact Cesar directly at cesar.torres@questpatagonia.com.

Ciao, and Happy Trails!
Todd Holmes