slow-dog.entry16.04.2005: "15 April 2005 - Pucon"

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As I woke up on the bus from Santiago to Pucon, we were at one of the interim stops in Temuco. A woman comes on the bus, selling newspapers. The front picture is of a volcano errupting. The cover story talks about how volcanic activity is on the rise, and Volcán Villarica may blow at any moment.

I arrive in Pucon, and proceed to inquire about this around town. Some tour companies are going. Some are not. It may be illegal. It may be not. You can go, but only up to 300m from the summit. Information is a mess, so I decide to say stuff it for a day. I end up going on a hike through some lakes in a nearby national park, which was quite nice, and reminded me quite a bit of the Sierra Nevadas back home. I went on the hike with some other intrepid travellers who were also interested in going up the volcano, despite the fact that the headline of the day's paper was "Peligro is imminente", and another picture of a past erruption. When we returned, we learned that the tour company run by the owner of our hostel was planning to go up the next day, weather permitted.

The morning was overcast, but the weather looked decent, and we headed out, equipped with crampons and an ice axe to tackle the volcano. It was probably one of the most physically exerting hikes I've done, covering 1400 meters of vertical distance in 5 hours, but the summit was worth it, even if there was just a little bit of sulphury smelling gas puffing out of the top, and no fountains of lava.

And afterwards, we went out to celebrate.

10:35 AM PST

Replies: 2 comments

Rock. Reminds me of doing Mt Baldy -- that's about 5000ft in 14 mi -- and Haleakala on Maui -- about 2500ft over 15 lava-filled miles.

Posted by Schnitz @ 04/16/2005 11:58 AM PST

great photo! i'm glad you were able to make the hike. beth will be SERIOUSLY jealous.

Posted by christy @ 04/18/2005 05:17 AM PST