Yay!!!!!!!!!!!
Clear blue skies, sunshine……perfecto!!!!!!
All good for climbing up the volcano. We were all kitted out with mountain climbing
equipment. The overall kit list
included: waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, gaiters, mountaineering boots,
crampons, ice-axe, hat, gloves, and rucksack ….looked the business!!!
The mountaineering boots I borrowed had
extremely rigid soles and little flexibility (a bit like ski boots) and really
most uncomfortable….for those who have been skiing with me you know what I’m
talking about. Anyway after a while of
wearing the boots my feet soon got used to them.
Being a volcano the climb gets steeper the
higher you go, so by time we had reached the last third it was really tough
going. It was made slighter easier by
the well formed steps made in the snow by that day's previous trekkers, and
wearing the crampons certainly helped.
Our guide however took us off the main track several times since the
groups in front were slowing us down.
After a few hours we had reached the
summit….
2840m above sea level….we had started at a1400m. The panorama was amazing; it was so clear you
could see for miles. You can see more
distant volcanoes and a range of low snow covered mountains towards the
Argentinean border. A few us walked
around the rim of the crater and had a good look down. The sulfuric gases
caught in my throat a few times…not a nice experience!!! 
Couldn't see much in the crater but could
tell it was deep. It would let out the
occasional rumble….it is the most active volcano in Chile after all!!!!
After a brief rest we make our descent….on our
backsides!! It was great fun….and by
far the quickest way down. It was like a
luge, and using our ice picks to slow down.
It was great fun and the whole descent must have been less than an hour.
Overall, a fantastic climb, very tiring, but
will worth it once at the top.
The next day I was back at school for the morning,
and spent the evening relaxing in the thermal baths just outside Pucón.
