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Published: April 28th 2009
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VOLCAN VILLARICA
As seen from Pucon ecole is the place we decided to stay in Pucon, arriving on a 5 hour bus ride from Puerto Varas, along the way we stopped in Osorno, Valdivia and some other small towns. the trip was quite pleasant, Valdivia seems very nice i made a mental note to come back there in the future. Jo, Simon and i shared a room. there is a portable heater but not working and it gets cold here at night, at least the duvet is super thick. We got down to business fairly quickly, booked with Aguaaventura for the Villarica Volcano hike the next day, we have to be fitted with all the gears we need for the hike, boots, jackets, pants gloves, etc. getting to the top is weather dependent and we just hope for a better weather than today, where the people who tried to climb up were turned back.
Walked around the lake for a bit after ice cream. we met a biker girl from UK biking solo on her own across Patagonia, very brave, she hang out with us that night, lots of funny stories about her experiences on the road. called it a night at midnite tucked ourselves in
VOLCAN VILLARICA CLIMB
preparing for the glacier hike, crampons on the duvet very nice and warm as it is freezing cold in the room. we got up to a perfect weather, cloudless sky but quite cold. We went to the Aguaventura office 7am and we got sorted and put into a van and off we go travelling for an hour to get to the base starting point of the hike. We have the option to take the ski lift up and will save u 45 minutes of walking uphill so we all took it for 5,000 pesos. The ride was nice, when we got to the top we made our wasy up to the glacier, the guide's pace was not too fast so it was not very difficult, we stopped a couple of times to rest and eat, we were told that making up the crater depends on the wind so we still dont know if we will summit until we get closer, but our spirits were high, it's such a beautiful day we all feel we will get there. few people quit before we even got to the glacier, the rest of us we put on our crampons and ice picks out and off we go. We are climbing
CLIMBING VOLCAN VILLARICA
crate hole, where you hear the rumbling inside a steep mountain, the boots I rented were not comfortable I struggle each time I step forward, I thought the crampons must be too tight, but really cant do anything about it and suffered through the whole ordeal, I can feel the back of my feet is raw and the skin is peeling really badly. Chris an Aussie guy with us also had the same problem and we try to push each other to not give up, the crater is just a half hour away.
We finally got to the point where we need to take our crampons out, the French girls in front of us is holding everybody back, one had vertigo and had to be cared for but they just stop in the middle of the narrow path and i needed to get the damn crampons off, my feet is aching so badly. What a relief when the crampons were off but by now my feet is so sore it did not matter, the only consolation is we are 5 minutes away from the top. We walked up covering our mouths and nose every so often, wafts of sulfuric gas gets blown by the strong wind to
our direction, we were told to stop and get down if it gets too bad, fortunately it didnt. We walked around the crater rim for a bit, steam coming off from lip of the volcano and the scenery above of the surrounding mountains is indescribable, we can see Volcan Llaima which just recently erupted and Volcan Lanin near the Argentinean border, clear skies, no clouds, perfect!! This is trully well worth the agony I have to endure climbing up with blisters aplenty on my feet.We heard the rumblings of the living volcano, quite cool but we did not see lava. After staying there for 1 hour we headed back slowly, sharp pumice rocks on the way down we have to walk carefully, my legs are so tired my knees hurt. We put crampons on once again and hurried down the glacier, we were taught how to get down safely on crampons, digging your heel on the snow for better grip, quite painful for me. but before you know it we are almost at the bottom of the glacier, we took photos of some crevice then down again, taking off our crampons we run down the path, gravelly, loose soil easy
to get down on stoppedfor a break a few times then finally we are at the ski lift base the agony is over! Hopped on the van and back to town we were given beers and pinon nuts, a very tasty treat from the Araucaria tree.
We decided to sign up for the thermal baths that night leaving at 8pm. After a quick dinner at Club 77 restaurant we met up with Aussie Chris and Mick from the Paine trek, saw him hanging out at the lobby of the hostel, he is staying there as well. Lots of catching up as we drive to the thermal pools, we bought some beers to drink there, took nearly an hour to get there and what do you know, we have to hike down some more as if we havent had enough yet. The first pool we saw we headed straight to. very hot water but soothing after a while, the night is cold and what do you know no alcohol allowed! There was a guy flashing light on culprits bringing drinks in the pool so we have to hide it. There are 6 more pools around but i stayed put as
i cant be bothered to get away from the hot water. There is an outdoor shower but icy cold! After couple hours of chilling and secretly drinking booze we left the place, lots of waiting in the van, an English girl in our group hooked up with one of the guides and they took their time coming back to the van, probably making out somewhere, Chris the Aussie was ticked off we have to wait for them, havent we waited enough for them in the mountains? he asked annoyed, true though she was always last and we have to wait every time for her. Finally they came half an hour late. fell asleep in the van on way back. Straight to bed for me.
Simon rented a bike the next day while me Mick and Joe spent the day mucking about internetting and Joe have to fix Mick's virus problem in his computer. In the afternoon, we went to an ice cream shop for an excellent ice cream treat then walked around the lake. Mick showed another beach with black sand, really nice near the main square. i can imagine it when it is busy in the summer full
of bodies spread around any strip of beach available. the houses here are nice, condos, vacation houses. Some exclusive neighborhoods as well. back to the hostel, gathered more new people, another Chris from Lake Tahoe joined us and we had dinner at Club 77 again then bought some beer and had a night cap in the hostel. Went to bed late. The next day checked out and booked my next destination, up to the north of this very long country, a few days of travelling oh boy...
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