For this episode of Far Out, VICE went to Chilean Patagonia to meet Faustino Barrientos, one of Lake O'Higgins' most infamous inhabitants.
Lake O'Higgins comprises a portion of the border between Chile's Aysén region and Argentina's Santa Cruz province. Since 1965, Faustino Barrientos has lived alone on the shores the lake, in a house built from the remains of a shipwrecked fishing vessel. He's a pastoralist, living mostly off the land and his livestock, with few modern amenities. His nearest neighbors are in Villa O'Higgins, a small community of several hundred people, 25 miles away, accessible only by a two-day horseback ride through rugged mountain animal paths. Every few years, Faustino makes this ride to sell his cattle in town.
Currently 81 years old, Faustino is reaching the end of his life, and his self-imposed isolation is being encroached upon by the forces of government, economy, and tourism. In December 2011, VICE went to document his lifestyle and speak with him about the changing face of Patagonia and the gaucho lifestyle.
More From This Show
-
Agafia's Taiga Life
In 1936, a family of Russian Old Believers journeyed deep into Siberia’s vast taiga to escape persecution and protect their way of life. The Lykovs eventually settled in the Sayan Mountains, 160 miles…
-
Agafia's Taiga Life - Trailer
In 1936, a family of Russian Old Believers journeyed deep into Siberia’s vast taiga to escape persecution and protect their way of life. The Lykovs eventually settled in the Sayan Mountains, 160 miles…
-
Faustino's Patagonian Retreat
In Episode 2 of Far Out, VICE went to Chilean Patagonia to meet Faustino Barrientos, one of Lake O'Higgins' most infamous inhabitants. Lake O'Higgins comprises a portion of the border between Chile's
-
Heimo's Arctic Refuge 5 of 5
Baby Balls starts to get the swing of trapping and gets a crash course on the close relationship of life and death in the arctic.
-
Heimo's Arctic Refuge 4 of 5
The dangers of living 100 miles from the nearest human contact come stalking into the Korth’s yard.
-
Heimo's Arctic Refuge 3 of 5
Heimo leads us across the tundra to stalk caribou and trap beaver. The hunters become the hunted…
-
Heimo's Arctic Refuge 2 of 5
The VBS crew settles into daily life in the arctic, blissfully unaware that some kind of monster is stalking them from the underbrush.
-
Heimo's Arctic Refuge 1 of 5
Heimo Korth is a hunter and fur-trapper who lives with his Eskimo wife in the middle of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. That’s only, oh, 100 miles from the next nearest human
-
I Used to Abuse Fentanyl
This is one painkiller you should definitely avoid.
-
Deportee Purgatory
About 40 percent of Mexican immigrants deported from the US are sent back through Tijuana.
-
American Teens Are Being Trapped in Abusive 'Drug Rehab Centres'
How an anti-drug cult from the 60s has evolved into an abusive, billion-dollar “teen rehab” industry.
-
Juggalos Are OK, Cupid
Don’t be a Tumblr asshole to people trying to find love.
-
Shots from a Protest at Marineland
Photos from the scariest sea animal based amusement park on earth.
-
VICE News: Triple Hate
'Triple Hate' is a four-part documentar
-
Which Hockey Team Will End Canada’s Stanley Cup Drought?
A Canadian team hasn't won the Stanley Cup in twenty years.
-
Marc Maron Is the King of Twitter
The man is an entertainer, and clearly a very smart one.
-
A Chat with Janicza Bravo (and Brett Gelman) About Her New Short Starring Michael Cera in a Wheelchair
A couple weeks back I chatted with J&B over baba ghanous about the new film.
-
Murderous Fanatics and EDL Idiots Brought Darkness to Woolwich Yesterday
We spent the day there trying to make sense of it all.
-
A Few Impressions: 'Leviathan,' I Love You
It holds up a mirror to nature, but this mirror came from a funhouse.
-
VICE News: This Is What Winning Looks Like
A documentary about the ineptitude and corruption of the Afghan security forces.
-
VICE on HBO Outtakes: Tobaccoland
Thomas Morton gets a full smoke-therapy treatment in Malang.
-
In Search of Tim Dog, the Rapper Turned Con Artist Who Probably Faked His Own Death
This February, the legendary rapper turned grifter Tim Dog died. So why is there a warrant out for his arrest?
-
Speaking with Adam Kokesh, Before He Was Detained by the Feds
This would be the first in a series of controversies surrounding Adam and his politics.
-
Pakistan's Election Went Off Without a Hitch... Sort Of
Just being able to transition governmental authority without military involvement is a victory.
-
Please Start Banning Books Again
There has never been a better time to start censoring art in America.
-
Stoya on Peeking Behind the Porn Curtain
We are fascinated by what entertainers and public personalities do when they aren't at work.
-
VICE News: Triple Hate
A doc about Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Memphis City Council, the Klan, and the Crips.
-
Spanish Bombs: Granada Unveils Joe Strummer Plaza
Granada inaugurates a plaza for Clash frontman Joe Strummer.
-
A Few Impressions: 'Leviathan,' I Love You
It holds up a mirror to nature, but this mirror came from a funhouse.
-
We Photographed a Drunk EDL Hate Mob Attacking Police Last Night
They went there to spread Islamophobia and achieved absolutely nothing.
-
Murderous Fanatics and EDL Idiots Brought Darkness to Woolwich Yesterday
We spent the day there trying to make sense of it all.
-
Deportee Purgatory
About 40 percent of Mexican immigrants deported from the US are sent back through Tijuana.
-
A Chat with Janicza Bravo (and Brett Gelman) About Her New Short Starring Michael Cera in a Wheelchair
A couple weeks back I chatted with J&B over baba ghanous about the new film.
-
Psychic Melt: The Art of Alexandra Mackenzie
Noodle faces, girls with guns, wolves, galaxies, reptiles, crystals, and more.
-
I Tested out Three Cambodian Spiritual Practices
And learned that Cambodian ghosts apparently don't believe in Jesus.
-
Amy’s Baking Company's Grand Reopening Nearly Bored Me to Death
It was kinda like real life TV, but nothing was happening.
-
Munchies: The Marrow
He yelled a lot while juicing rhubarbs.
-
VICE on HBO Outtakes: Egypt on the Brink - Women Under Assault
VICE co-founder Suroosh Alvi meets with some local activists around Tahrir Square.
-
Art Talk: Matt Mignanelli
A chat about his work, life, and strong American work ethic.
-
VICE News: Sisa: Cocaine of the Poor
A new drug called sisa is tearing its way through Athens' poor.
-
Did a Murderer Just Give Himself Away on Yelp?
It seems like he might have done.
-
How Are We Supposed to Know What the Government Does?
It's pretty terrifying how little we know.
-
Watch Japanther's Kaleidoscopic New Video for "Stolen Flowers"
It's really good.
-
Rave and Hardcore YouTube Comments Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity
They're genuinely some of the most beautiful things I've ever read.
Related Shows
-
We go there so you don't have to.
Daytona Beach, 1999
Photos by Eli Reed 
Bomb Blast Bajaur
Is Life Really Back to Normal in Khar? 
BC Bud
Meeting Some Growers Out West 
The Imaginary Republic of Molossia
Nevada's Sovereign Micronation 
Fuck Him and His Library
George W. Bush Was the Worst 
Cry-Baby of the Week
Uh Oh, Someone Downloaded Cartoon Porn 
Comments