Pucon, Chile, 6th - 8th Januaty

We left Santiago and drove south. We left the lush green grape growing area and as we went south, the climate became drier and the grapes gave way to wheat and the drier and thinner soils were only good for open pasture or trees. There were miles and miles of forests with a lot of log lorries and sawmills.

We stopped for a bush camp and had a barbecue next to a river and it was light until quite late although it was cold overnight.

The mist rising off the river in the morning.

Then it was just an hour from the bush camp to get to Lago Villarrica and the town at the far end of the lake called Pucon. On our way we passed Volcan Villarrica, which rises to 2.847m and is an active volcano. The plan was to book a trip to climb to the top, the last section using crampons to get through the snow to the crater at the top. The photo isn't very good but there was steam nd gas rising from the crater.

 It was a lovely day but we were out of luck. The weather forecast for the next few days was low cloud and rain so there were no trips going up the volcano. However we enjoyed the rest of the day around the lake and having a wine and cheese picnic on the lake shore.

As an alternative a small group of us planned to catch a bus and go the Huerquehue National Park. The volcano usually dominates the skyline but during the night, a front had moved in and the low cloud completely obscured the volcano. We missed the bus as it left the bus station as we were entering so we took a taxi to catch the bus up. We did catch the bus but only at the entrance to the park as all the passengers were getting off.

We started the hike at the ranger station besides Lago Tinquilca which we could glimpse through the trees.

It had started to rain which made everything slippery and very muddy. But at least the waterfalls had a lot of water cascading down the cliff face.

 Another waterfall but the trees were so close to the edge of the river that it was difficult to get a view of the whole thing.

It was a hike with a climb of over 500m vertical. At one of the mirador we could look back and see Lago Tinquilca some distance below. The rain had got heavier and the cloud was drifting in and would soon obscure this view.

 One of the rustic bridges across a river. The end of the hike was to cross the top of a ridge and descend to see three lakes high in the mountains.

Lago Chico, the first and the smallest of the three lakes.

 Lage Verde, the largest of the lakes with a monkey puzzle tree in the foreground. By now I was thoroughly wet through. The paths had turned into stream as water dripped from the trees down my neck on its way down the mountain.

Back in Pucon, it had stopped raining and I found a warm bar in which to drip dry before getting back to the tent.