Direct drive from Ushuaia along Route 3 to the Garibaldi Pass area. This is a non-signposted backcountry route used by ski-tourers and local birders; navigation relies on local knowledge and current conditions rather than marked trails.

The hike begins in a broad alpine valley shaped by extensive beaver activity. Dams, ponds, and lodges create a mosaic of wetlands, peat, and shallow channels. Terrain here is mostly flat to gently rising, with soggy patches and small stream crossings. We thread the drier margins while scanning pond edges; woodland species may accompany this initial section.

We enter mature Nothofagus forest where the climb begins in earnest: a steady, continuous ascent on rooty and sometimes muddy tread beside meltwater runnels. Short listening stops at openings and creek crossings allow us to work this well-preserved forest before reaching the ecotone.

The tall forest grades into dwarf southern-beech (krummholz) and patchy scrub. We follow lightly marked game trails and occasional boot tracks across small clearings to scan the forest–alpine transition before committing to open ground.

Beyond the trees the slope steepens across moraine ribs, coarse gravel, and wind-sculpted alpine turf. We gain a series of high benches and shallow alpine flats beneath the pass—key habitat for Yellow-bridled Finch and ground-tyrants (Dark-faced, Ochre-naped). With luck and season, we carefully check stony seepage areas for White-bellied Seedsnipe (never guaranteed). In clear conditions, expansive views open toward Lago Escondido and Lago Fagnano, one of the visual highlights of the Andean crossing. If conditions and energy allow, we may explore slightly higher ridges or pans (higher probing up to ~900 m) to investigate promising vegetation patches before turning back.

We return the same way, re-sampling krummholz, mature forest, and the beaver-pond valley on the descent, before reaching RN-3 and driving back to Ushuaia.