Being restricted to a boat for four days has put our arses into gear, and we book our next adventure, and the main reason we are here in the small town of Pucon. To climb to the top of the active volcano Villarrica. The concept of climbing the 2847m high volcano in a lifetime, let alone in one day is daunting enough. Finding out that spurts of moulten lava may jump up and hit you when you are peering in is another story all together. One to scare you off, you may think. But all 9 sign up for the following day. The little town, although small in size, is perfectly equipt for the traveller. A few bars, cafes, a big supermarket and a nice view of the beast of Villaricca. And there was me thinking i would be roughing it in Chile! It is a bit of a shock price wise, with everything around a third more expensive.

Up at the crack of dawn on the 'big day', everyone is praying for good weather as this can cancel our ascent for the day, and we are raring to go. Walking over to the tour company in the darkness of 7am in town gives us a glimpse of whats to come, the lava glowing brightly at the peak of the volcano and smoke rising. Im so excited, i fall into a ditch, not looking where im going 'im ok, im ok'. Classy. We get kitted out from head to toe in the most hard wearing equipment ive ever seen. Huge calf length waterproof boots, jacket, mits, sunglasses, helmet and the best... crampons and a pick axe. Crampons, for those of you not farmiliar with ice climbing, are metal spikes we attach to our boots to climb up the sheer ice near the top of the volcano. I also notice a shiny material on the bum part of the trousers, all will be revealed later on in the day. Literally kitted out like i was going to camp in the volcano for days, is there something theyre not telling me perhaps?? Aside from the nagging sensation that we may not come back down the 2847m high volcano with all limbs in tact, we head up in a minibus to the foot of Villarrica, looking like the mutts nuts. Our guide asks us to decide if we want to go today, afterspending nearly an hour putting all this kit on, im in no state of mind not to climb this mother, and we opt for the climb. As the weather can change so quickly, there s no certain way of knowing what the summit weather will be like in 4hrs. Ill take me chances.

And so we begin, after 10 minutes of treking im feeling the strain on my lungs. This is going to be tougher than i thought. 5 days a week at the gym is not going to hep me now. Our descent continues for 2hrs, going from dirt track to snow and having to criss cross up the side of the volcano in order to stay on our feet. I am stopping every 5 minutes now like an incompetent freak, WHY WONT MY LUNGS WORK! Eventually we have a rest after 3 hrs, and change into our crampons, and get a lesson how to use our ice-picks in the event of falling down the sheer drop we had just climbed. The next hour gets tougher, climbing ice, digging ice-picks deep to help òur balance and attempting to keep on our feet with the ever increasing gale force winds. As we look up, all we can see is white, but the most breathtaking view of Pucon and the surrounding area if we dare to turn around (i brave it only once, before almost losing my feet). The things i do for a good picture for you guys! With my throat almost in ruins, im assured we are only a few hundred metres away from the top. Unfortunatly the weather takes another thurn for the worse and rain starts to fall. The guide insists that we descend now before one of us gets hurt, so the bloody vlcano got the better of us. That bitch. And here is where we descover what our shiny bums are for... After clomping down te path we had just come in our crampns for half an hour, our crampons are released and put away. Our guide then tells us to slide down this part of the snow on our arses. Yes arses. With reluctant glares all round, Nick braves the first move with amusing consequences. After seeing is body for only a few seconds, he zooms off down the volcano with his pick axe in his hands to stop his fall. Go go gadget bum! The rest of us follow, a few lose their axes on the way and we are all tricked into sliding off a ramp in the snow near the bottom. What an exhilarating experience! Unfortunalty back in the van by 2 and changed out of our gear and home by 4pm. A knackering expedition, but a fun one, we have dinner at a local place called Club 77. I find to my delight that our hostal, of all things has a bath so wallowing in my own filth finishes the day with comfort.

Obviously the bath has brought back memories of being pampered, back in those lovely days at home, and it continues the next day with a lay in and trip to the local (1hr away) natural thermal spas at Las Pozones. Again a discount is won when the 9 of us go together again. It sounds weird but the trip there was calming. Smoothe roads, green Connifers and woods is a far cry from the bustling town of Pucon. The sun also has his hat on, first sign since Mendoza in Argentina. Nice and relaxed for the arrival at the 6 30-42degree pools to come.

The backdrop of the valley, the Livcura river running beside and the good company of our friends is a great way to unwind. The biggest pool becomes host to a variety of silly pictures taken by self-timed cameras and ridiculous poses

, by myself of course. In an attempt to close my pores, we take a dip n the freezing pluge pools before getting changed for hom 2hours later. The heat made me very sleepy, so i head up to bed soon after our return to the hostel. The next daywas a surprise, rain. The only things to do when it is raining, is shopping and emailing. The former didnt work out too well for me with 7 shops of interest (and thats a nice way of putting it) emailing pictures became the source of fun before the next 10hr stint on the bus to Santiago that evening.

written by  Vegtibbles on June 26, 2006 from Pucon, Chile
from the travel blog: The Crazy Adventures of the Tibbler
tagged GoGoGadgetBum
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Yo there Princess Peach, Have just found your e-mail telling me where you are.
Will be following your exciting trip with bated breath! Keep having fun.

Love Pete x

written by  Pete Voller on June 29, 2006

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