Surrounded by the serene beauty of winter on the ranch, I’m gratified to reflect on a terrific season at Patagonia Frontiers. Notably, after two years of pandemic isolation, we returned to serving our students, guests, and visitors. The renewed opportunity to share our wilderness ranch and home is a joy.
The season was also meaningful due to having significantly expanded our ‘wilderness classroom’ and furthering our vision of advancing outdoor education and safeguarding Patagonia wildlands. As mentioned in our October, 2021 announcement, New Frontiers in Patagonia, I believe the success of our endeavors is significantly determined by how well this astonishing place is shared with others.
Here is a glimpse of recent adventures, accomplishments, and appreciations for some of the people who made it possible.
Connecting with Wilderness Through Education, Conservation, and Adventure
Patagonia Frontiers mission is to connect people with wilderness through education, conservation, and adventure. This past season we instructed a diverse range of immersive experiences, welcoming 90 students across six courses from universities, high schools, and educational institutions such as High Mountain Institute.
Highlights include a 23-day Outdoor Education and Global Studies course with Steamboat Mountain School, and a backcountry program with Penn State University (view details and case studies on our Educational Programs page). What fantastic students, teachers, and professors to learn and share with! It offers us great satisfaction to witness the impact our courses have on individuals, and to witness the strong motivation they occasion within our own passionate team.
Speaking of the Patagonia Frontiers portion of their travel abroad program, a Penn State blog post reports: “Looking back, [Emma] recalled how nervous she was to go on her first-ever backpacking hike — a portion of the trip that ended up being the highlight of her entire experience. She said that by completing this difficult part of the journey, it made her realize her strength and that she could do anything she set her mind to.”
A Season of Agility, ‘Antifragility’, and Adventure: Celebrating our Dedicated Staff
Challenges and time constraints are part and parcel of any demanding season. Patagonia Frontiers staff demonstrated remarkable hardiness, rising to each need and occasion, and improving as a result. Their ability to adapt to changes and to face and navigate uncertainty recalls Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s concept of antifragility. Instead of being knocked down or becoming averse to challenge and difficulty, staff embraced these as opportunities for growth and emerged stronger and more capable. Hat’s off to you!
While staff served students and guests throughout the season, there remained time for personal adventure and development. They seized opportunities to embark on their own trips and explored surrounding peaks, backpacked through adjacent wildlands, and ventured into Patagonia National Park. Their appetite to explore, learn and improve embodies a spirit of curiosity and learning we strive to foster.
Contributing to the Local Economy
In a year that proved difficult for regional tourism, we are pleased to have been able to contribute to the local economy. Hiring locally, as well as partnerships with professional local services, accommodations and transportation providers continues to fuel beneficial relationships with our surrounding community and to maintain a positive influence. In addition, we are grateful for their valuable support to our mission.
We appreciate the leap of faith necessary to undertake a journey to Patagonia, Chile’s pristine landscape. The feedback we receive from students, teachers, and guests lets us know it’s well worth it, and resolves us to continue to provide exceptional experiences.
Learn more about our adventures and outdoor education, and explore some sample itineraries. Patagonia awaits, and we can’t wait to share it with you!
We are currently booking programs for the upcoming season and invite you to contact us to plan your trip.
John Hauf founded Patagonia Frontiers in 1999 to connect people with wilderness through education, conservation, and adventure. From our wilderness ranch home, Patagonia Frontiers offers multi-day trekking, horseback trips, mountaineering, and education programs in the heart of Chilean Patagonia.