Pucon, Chile

  Pucon, Lake District, Chile
Sunday, October 26, 2008

After 27 hours in 3 buses, I arrived at Pucon, Chile - which is in the Northern part of Chilean Patagonia, and about the same latitude and climate as Oregon. 

It's a beautiful little town on the edge of an alpine lake with a conical snow-capped volcano puffing away in the background. 

My goal here is climbing said volcano - but every day has been met with "tomorrow should be a better day - how about rappelling down waterfalls instead?  That should be good today!"

So I sign up for the different activity.  Inevitably the clouds burn off and it turns into a perfect day - so I return to the climbing shop that evening to see about ascending the volcano the next day and they say "well, today was perfect - but it looks like rain tomorrow, so we aren't climbing.  How about kayaking instead?"

But I really enjoy this little town and will probably spend a week here.  Besides, you can get krill empanadas, which are strangely wonderful.  And for anyone wondering if I've been eating OK, check out the photos below for some examples of what you can get for less than a cheeseburger back home.    

Next up: Stories about rappelling down waterfalls, major mishaps during my first attempt at whitewater kayaking,  and FINALLY, snowboarding down said active volcano...