Well I have just returned from an amazing, but exhausting climb of
Villarrica Volcano. I must say this was probably the most amazing thing I
have done, and hopefully some of the pictures I took can do it some justice.
First we got our gear ready, snow pants, jacket, gloves, pick axe, and
boots, then we drove 30 minutes to get to the volcano. Which incidently is
a ski hill in the winter. We then took a 10minute ski lift up the volcano to
where the snow starts. From there it didn't look like it was going to be all
that difficult of a climb.. So we started walking up, the snow never melts,
but does get a little slushy in the sun, so it's very icey, and not overly
easy to climb up, we have to zig zag our way up the volcano. So about 45mins
in, it's break time, and the top of the volcano doesn't seem any closer, I
wasn't really tired, but I then knew it was going to be quite a hike.
Another hour climb, it's starting to get harder, the air is getting thing,
the top of the volcano is almost 2500 meters, I wasn't having that much
problem with the air, as the is the same elevation of Calgary, my problem
was that well I guess I am a tad out of shape. 30 more minutess, some of the
group are really slowing down. I am doing ok, I have to put on a good show,
as I am the only Canadian in the group of 9, the others were from Germany,
Brazil, and Argentina. The group leaders say it is only another hour to the
top, it is getting steeper, and definatley more difficult. So one last
break, and then finally we reach the top!
It was like being on another planet! Smoke was gushing out of the volcano,
it is active, but the last time it errupted was in the 70's however a few
months ago there was a scare, as there was a lot of siesmic activity, and we
have to wear helmets as sometimes rocks fall from above us, and sometimes
the volcano shoots out rocks, you could see them scattered around on top of
the snow, most were baseball sized, but some were larger, like basketball
size. Anyhow, I was up closer to take a look into the volcano, and the
sulphur gas was overwhelming, very hard to breath, and really burns the
eyes. So I tried to find a vantage point opposite the wind, I took some
photos, but I don't think they turned out too good, as there was just too
much smoke from the volcano, but I did see several gushes of lava about 50
feet down, it was quite amazing.
So we sat around the top of the volcano, as other groups started to trickle
in, and ate lunch, it was very windy, and kind of chilly up on top, it was
now time for the decent, and that was so much fun, there were grooves from
all the tourists over time, and most of the way you could just slide down on
your ass, kind of like a luge, with out the luge, as was a bit frozen, but
it was a nice quick way down, and in some parts you were going at a pretty
good speed!
Well I will upload the photos shortly, and then tonite I will probably take
it very easy, as I am quite tuckered out, and then tomorrow during the day I
have to figure out where the heck I am going next, a couple of the places I
had in mind, seem very booked up, so it should be interesting, I may look
for a cheaper place here in Pucon and stay a few more days, as I quite like
this town.
Posted by Jason Willock