Pucon and the Volcano

Volcano Villarrica sits just outside of Pucon, Chile.  It dominates the landscape.  We got to climb the monster, peer into its depths, then slide all the way down again.  It was one of the most exciting things I've ever done.

Our morning started early at 6AM with the guides supplying us will all our gear . . . boots (check), coat and waterproof pants (check), crampon (check), gasmask (check).  Wait . . . did you say gasmask?  They tell us it's just in case . . .people have passed out and died if they're alone when the wind blows the wrong way.  We will never be alone though.  2 of our group of 8 are eager beavers, chomping at the bit to be the first to scale the mountain.  Our guides chastised one of them, saying he would have to return to the bottom if he got ahead of the group again.  No climbing without a guide allowed.

A view of from our lunch spot halfway up

An old chairlift we passed.  People still a ski here, but
the chairlift no longer functions because it was burned out
during an eruption decades ago.  Only the concrete shell remains.  

I stayed in the back half our our group for the assent.  Our group consisted of Paul, an Aussi who was perpetually making us laugh, Ash, his friend from Ireland who was just as funny, Mouna, me, two guides, and a trainwreck of a Chinese girl (or guy, we couldn't be sure).   The 4 hour trek up the mountain was challenging but not too bad when led at a slow and steady pace. It's pretty steep in sections and you're walking through snow most of the time, so we often had to literally follow in our guide's footprints.

We got lucky at the top.  Villarica is the most active volcano in Chile, and you still are lucky if you see the magma the day you go up.  We saw it spitting up lava that cooled quickly into chucks of rock spewing upwards out of the mouth of the volcano.  So cool!  The views of the surrounding parks from up top were also incredible.  I would have climbed this far just to see them.

If it looks like I am close to the edge, it's because I am.  

A view of Volcans Quetrupilan and Lanin
from the top of Volcan Villarrica

Another view from the top

Then we bundled up in our waterproof gear and literally slid down the mountain!  The number of people making the same trek through the snow to the top has created a human luge through the snow on the way down.   We plummeted down, using pickaxes as brakes for at least half an hour straight.  It was incredible.

The guide checking my waterproofness
the blue thing is my sled

That night, we celebrated with our mini-group by splurging on sushi, then ice cream, and a finally with bottle of Carmenere by the lake.

The next day, we celebrated by relaxing. Everyone except me slept in the next morning.  I couldn't sleep past 7:00 (as usual).  Then a late breakfast in town, hours past making the most of the hostel's internet, sometime while relaxing in the treehouse out front with a view of the lake :)

And finally, a sunset kayaking trip.  Mouna, Joey and I paddled out to the beach with a picnic dinner, pausing halfway to enjoy somebody else's water trampoline.  We were joined on the rocky beach by two other people from the hostel, and all 5 of us watched the sun sink below the horizon of Lago Villarrica.  A peaceful and pleasant way to end a day with good people.

The kayak crew at our picnic perch.
Volcan Villarrica is in the background of all the pictures here.

Thanks to Joey for paddling back the whole way, for sharing his pictures and the memories.

Next Stop:  Puerto Varas