Pucon

  Pucon, Lake District, Chile
Saturday, April 4, 2009

Week 22-23 April 4th - 7th

Saturday.  The journey across the Andes into Chile was beautiful when it wasn't raining hard. The border controls are humourous. They scan you and your luggage for traces of food stuffs. If ya have an apple or an orange or a slice of ham it's a case of "One bullet. Bang! Bang! Back of the head!". Seemingly anything that is natural or healthy they do not allow into the country. If you're caught you get a hefty fine and a slap on the wrists. Funnily there is no mention of drugs in there at all. I can only presume that's grand. A brief stopover and bus change in some town was only memorable for a rather odd incident from a Chilean couple who were laughing and joking at the bus station. Suddenly the guy gets up and runs off followed by the lady screaming after him. After realising the fact that her acceleration was considerably less than his, she swung her handbag into a looping trajectory across the bus park missing him by a couple of metres. They continue running out of the station down the main street to the bewilderment of everyone. A security man and duty walks out into the yard and picks up the bag nonchalantly as if this is the norm on a Sat afternoon. I arrive into Pucon late Saturday night and settle for the first hostel I see through the pouring rain.

Sunday, ya you guessed it the weather sucks here too. More rain. Very nice place though if only the sun would show it's face for a few hours I could climb that big volcano that's out there somewhere behind the clouds and be off on to Santiago. I'll give it til Tuesday then I'm out of here. More blog writing.

Monday, more blog writing but the outlook is promising.

Tuesday, blue skies! Lets go climb a volcano! The Volcano is called Villarrica, one of the most active Volcanoes in Chile. (Aside,Volcano Llaima a few km further north erupted on Sunday night, if the weather wasn't so bad we'd be able to see the glow from the lava flows at night). I arrive at the tour company offices and get kitted out in a very attractive jacket and trousers combination, boots and a rucksack containing an ice pick and crampons. We were driven up 1400 metres to a sort of base camp on the sdie of the volcano. During the winter this is a big ski area and everywhere is covered under many metres of snow. Now the only evidence are the treeless runs everywhere and the ski lifts. It is possible to cheat the first 400m climb by taking a ski lift. After that its still a 5 hour climb to the top at 2800 metres. We climbed in 30-40 min stints with 10 minute breaks. Initially it was quite rocky and dusty terrain until we reached the ice line about an hour in. then it was time to throw on the crampons and get some brief training on how to use our ice picks and stop ourselves sliding if we fell. Then we pushed on in lines up the mountains,. As the weather had been bad for so long most of Pucon was up the volcano that day and you can see many different groups in the pictures. Those people are actually that far away not just really small.  


About half way up the views started to get quite spectacular and in the distance we could see smoke rising from Volcano Llaima. The guides said it was actually steam caused by the lava melting the glacier. Getting closer to the top you could slowly smell the sulphur gases streaming out from the crater and over the sides. The stuff is quite toxic and makes a burning sensation in your lungs and throat when you get a good mouthful of it. When we finally reached the crater it was impressive though we couldn't get too close to it as every so often a huge venting gush could be heard inside and massive clouds of toxic gas would float out. This hike is most famous for the return back to the base. Normally you put all your gear in your backpack and slide down the mountain on your backside, but today the guides decided it was too icy and too dangerous. Boo-urns! It meant another 2 hour hike back down!!! Grrr. Anyway I'll leave you with the views... once again fantastic.