BISHOP'S SLOPE

In the year 1622, monsignor Cortázar, the highest ecclesiastical authority in Salta, made a trip from Salta to the Cachí village. The night caught him by surprise in the middle of the road, and the prelate had no choice but to get off the platform carrying him, and spend the night under the open sky.

Since that day, the locals had no better idea than calling the area the "Cuesta de la dormida del Obispo" (The Slope where the Bishop Slept), a name that was later shortened to "Cuesta del Obispo" (Bishop's Slope), which is the prevailing name nowadays.

Originally, the Valle de Calchaquí Valley had a bigger populated than the Valle de Lerma Valley. First the natives, who settled in the fertile land alongside the Calchaquí River; occupied it, then they were vanquished by the Incas, and the Incas themselves were later subdued by the Spanish conquerors.

This slope witnessed the rooting out of the Chicoanas living in the Valle Calchaquí valley, who were moved to the current Chicoana locality, in the Valle de Lerma valley.

Today, the 20 kms long slope is a wide well kept dirt road. Its future paving is uncertain, due to a notorious yellowish geological fault that runs through it.

It has a bifurcation: the road to the right leads to La Zanja, an excellent bean zone; and the one to the left descents towards the Valle Encantado Valley.

The slope ends at 3340 m.a.s.l. in La Piedra del Molino (the Millstone), an authentic milling granite rock, left in the middle of nowhere.

Travellers should not forget some precautions, like carrying a coat to keep warm. It usually snows during the southern hemisphere's winter, and rains during summer. Sometimes it is foggy as well. Thus the solidarity of those travelling through it, always ready to help if an emergency situation comes up, needs to be outstanding.

Place: It connects the Valle de Lerma valley with the Alto Valle Calchaquí Valley (in Salta) Route: The Ruta Provincial Nº 33 Provincial Route. Maximum Altitude: 3,348 ms at the Piedra del Molino (Bishop's Slope, towards Cachí) Remarks: Do not forget the Cabra Corral dam. In case of going to Cachí Adentro, the Ruinas de las Pailas Ruins and La Paya take pictures of the Cachí snow-capped mountain (6,720 metres) during the morning and of the Quebrada de Cafayete Gorge during the afternoon.

THE VALLE ENCANTADO ENCHANTED VALLEY
Standing at one side of the Bishop's Slope's winding road, the Valle Encantado Valley surprises the poetry oriented travellers. There is a lake here, sitting over high altitude meadows and reddish rocks; a land cradled by clouds near the Piedra del Molino (3,348 ms), the highest point of the road to Cachí.

The valley's charm is glimpsed from the foot of the Bishop's Slope when observing the Torreón de la Cuesta (Slope's Turret), a sort of guardian spirit standing 3,280 ms high. When reaching this mountain's summit, the scenic view of the valley below is astounding.

Going through the road along the Valle Encantado Valley, visitors can watch condors drinking from natural water troughs (some enormous rocks with cracks and fissures that storing rainwater). When lying besides the rocks, travellers will be amazed by the majestic glide of the Andean King, flying only a few meters above their heads.

Distances
From the Slope: 20 Km
From the City of Salta: 83 Km