I like hiking, Climbing, active adventures but i never climbed a volcano befor! So lets go to Pucon in Chile and do it!
Drone video on the bottom but please be so kind to read my blog first!
My friend Julio told me to go here, i met him in Santiago de Chile as you can read in part one of my "Chile blog" rigth here: https://steemit.com/travel/@luckyme03200/chile-part1-travel-blog-street-art-grafitti-a-soccer-game-and-a-beautiful-beach
He has a friend with a hostel there and gave him a Phone call to ask if he had room for me, I had an excellent stay there and would absolutely recommend the place when you go to Pucon, the name of the hostel is: La bicicleta.
The owner is very helpful, speaks english very well and can help you with everything you ask him!
The name of the hostel already tells you that there is more to do here then just Climbing a volcano, rafting, waterfalls, hotsprings, skiing when there is enough snow and there is a big lake with all kinds of posibilities.
The view from the rooftop terrace of the hostel was so inviting, i just couldnt wait to climb this monster!
Pucon itself has a lot of restaurants to eat and booking agencies that can help you to arrange a trip with a guide (i dont remember if you have to go with a guide, but i would defenitly recommend you to get one, this is a tricky climb!)
We had to get up very early, its a long day Climbing so we left in the dark for a short drive to the foot of the volcano, it was hard to take a good picture there, it was still pretty dark while we were preparing our equipment.
The first thing my guide asked us was: who wants to take the (ski)elevator to mid-station....I immediately said i didnt want that, i wanted to walk/climb all the way, i didnt go all the way to Pucon to take an elevator rigth?
Lucky enough most in my group were hungry young wolves so most went by foot and just a few went the easy way.
The guide did tell us it was a tough climb and you should only walk all the way up if u are in a good fysical shape.
I had been traveling for 5 months by that time and had been very active, i think i never been stronger in my life, still i have to admit this was one of the heaviest climbs i did!
A few people didnt make it to the top, all of them didnt take the elevator....
Standing at the bottom it doesnt look so hard but the Villarrica volcano is very steep and almost 3000 meters high, not too much oxygen in the air. Its also one of the most active volcanos in Chile, just a few months after i climbed it, there was an eruption and the whole Pucon area including the town was evacuated!
The view of the mountains was absolutely stunning with the sun rising more and more and by the time we made it to midstation most of us were already exhausted! We took a little break there and enjoyed the view.
There were sings everywhere not to go any further without the rigth gear, i was there in late summer so there was not that much snow, but we did need crampons cos of ice patches and the last part was still covered with snow.
The last hour of the climb is hard work, thin air and tired legs dont help but its getting more and more steep also while stone pathways turn in to ice and snow.
When you finally reach the top you will notice 2 things: The view got even better but there is also a terrible smell of rotten eggs.
We had bad luck, the wind was blowing towards us and all the smoke from the crater came rigth at us, it was hard to stand close to the crater cos it gave a very nasty burning sensation in your eyes also.
The sound is unbelieveble, you hear the lava explosions right beneath you and for sure it will cross your mind also that this volcano had atleast 65 eruptions in last 350 years.
Villarrica is one of the few volcanos in the world with a lava lake inside its crater, i did manage to see it but wasnt able to take a good picture, i was more focusing not to fall in to the crater haha!
Thats why I included a drone video, it shows you the lava lake and gives you a very good picture of the whole climb itself!
It also shows how you go down again, if there is lots of snow you can ski or slide down most of it, too bad there wasnt enough snow for skiing when i was there so we could slide for about 10 minutes and had to continue downwards by foot.
Like Always, a picture of myself (dont make jokes about my hair, i was wearing a helmet all day :-) to end my blog, all pictures were taken by myself, for the video all credits go to Jonny Copter!
I hope you enjoyed this blog, please follow me for more countries and adventures, a resteem and or upvote is very much appreciated!
click image above for video
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[//]:# (!steemitworldmap -39.419671 lat -71.939413 long Chile (part2) -TRAVEL BLOG- Climbing the Villarrica volcano, spectacular drone video included! d3scr)