sliding down a volcano

So yesterday I ascended Volcán Villarrica. I went with a group of 4 Aussie lads, 2 Israeli lasses, and a crusty German guide named Klaus (who brought skis). There is a ski area on the volcano, to whose base we were driven. We then took the ski lift (for an extra CLP5000, about $10) to a height of about 1800 meters. From there we began trekking uphill, through snow, in a long, occasionally broken chain of ants.

Did I mention there were about 200 other people on the mountain?

We stopped about once an hour for a break. The edge of the caldera is about 2870 meters, and each hour we covered about 250 meters of altitude, at a fairly slow pace. (It felt slow to my leg muscles, which like to go faster, but about right for my lungs, which usually complain.) Early on, we had a brief lesson in how to use the ice axe we were each given. Given that the mountain (especially at higher altitudes) is cone-shaped, there aren't many features to stop you from falling a Long Way.

The views on the way up, and on the caldera edge, were outstanding. We did not go to the actual summit (which was on the far side of the caldera from where we came up). But we got a really good look partway into the crater, which was deep enough that no lava was visible. But the steam wafting up from the crater did come with its own peculiar, umm, stench, which generally set people coughing.

The descent was a ride. Near the top, conditions were very icy, but once we got a bit further down, we did a series of progressively longer slides on our butts. Imagine you are in something resembling a water slide. Your means of control are (1) your feet, and (2) your ice axe. Both provide some means for controlling speed and direction.

The sliding was most fun higher up on the mountain, where the snow was firmer. As we got lower and lower, the snow got more and more slushy, and we ended up pushing a lot of it down the mountain with our butts.

Total time of ascent: about 3:45. Total time of descent: about 1:45.

Wheee.

Today I caught a bus to Valdivia, which is near the coast a bit further south than Pucón. From here, I plan to go to Bariloche in Argentina, and then on to a smaller place a bit south of there.

Hasta luego!