Cerro Tronador (Refugio Otto Meiling)

This two-day Patagonia hike leads to Refugio Otto Meiling on the slopes of Cerro Tronador, one of the most prominent peaks in the Bariloche region. The route climbs through coihue and lenga forests before emerging onto a high rocky ridge that culminates at the refuge (1,905m). Positioned between the Castaño Overa and Alerce glaciers, the stay offers a unique opportunity to witness active glacial calving. The trail follows a well-defined path of forest floor and alpine rock, with a final sustained push to reach the rocky spine where the hut perches.

The 'Big Kora' is an advanced outer circumambulation route rarely undertaken by independent hikers and subject to changing local regulations. Yading Nature Reserve, located in the Tibetan plateau of western Sichuan, is dominated by three sacred snow-capped peaks (Chenresig, Jambeyang, and Chanadorje). While many visitors complete the shorter day-hikes on boardwalks to Milk Lake, the 'Big Kora' (Outer Yading Trek) is a challenging 6-to-8-day high-altitude trek around all three peaks. Hikers navigate remote terrain including glacial lakes, forested valleys, and 4,700m+ passes, often sharing trails with Tibetan pilgrims and local wildlife.