With an ice axe in hand (a first for us) we set off on our way up to the summit of Volcano Villarrica, at 2847 m. The altitude and distance (about 5 hours up) was shorter then most of our other treks but it was the first time that we would be walking on snow. Our group consisted of 10 clients and 2 ½ guides – the ½ is for one guide that walked with us for an hour but then disappeared after being replaced by the head guide who took the ski lift up – cheater (j/k!).
Once we hit the snow the guide explained some valuable ice axe skills that we will be sure to use when we return home to the streets of Boston. We learned how to hold the axe (pick/sharp pointy end facing forward, although we were told the opposite by the ½ guide), what hand to hold it in (arm closest to the uphill slope), and most importantly how to carve out a butt seat in the snow so we could sit down when resting. After completing our mini mountaineering session, we started up the volcano. Believe it or not, I wasn’t a fan of this trek, mainly because I was having daydreams of sliding down the volcano’s slope and having to somehow use the ice axe to save my life. Somehow, although I am not sure why, I was reassured when Marc said he was thinking the same thing.
At the top of the volcano we forgot all about our Touching the Void scenarios. Sulfurous smoke was billowing out of the crater and we stood watching, amazed. Neither of us had been this close to an active volcano before, and hadn’t really thought you could go to the top of one. Our guide explained that we could only stay at the summit for about 30 minutes so that we didn’t breathe too much acrid smoke. Since we were soon hacking and coughing after reaching the top we completely understood. Fortunately, the smoke eventually diminished and didn’t affect our lung capacity too much.
The way down was a bit of a surprise – we slid (or glissaded) – on our butts, down the volcano. There were these bobsled-like chutes where we sat down and took off. The only problem was that you had to hold your ice axe in both hands against your left side, and, in fact, this served as your brake. The left hand was placed on the handle near the hip; the right hand was to be placed over the axe head, which was inches in front of our stomachs. I don’t think I was unfounded in being slightly concerned. In order to be courteous and not hold others up I let everyone go in front of me so I could brake at will down the first chute. What I didn’t anticipate was the head guide behind me yelling “Go! Go! Go!” and eventually sliding into me. I started yelling, lost control, and my ice axe flew out of my hands (it was later recovered) even though the one thing the guide had repeatedly emphasized was “Do not lose your ice axe!”. After the “ice axe incident”, the steepness of the chute decreased and the ride became more enjoyable.
My exchange with the guide at the bottom of the first chute:
Guide: “That was very good.”
Me: “No, it wasn’t.”
Guide: “No, it wasn’t, but I have to tell you that it was.”
Using a sliding, then walking, then sliding, etc. technique we made it down the volcano in a little over an hour. Despite my experiences, if you get the chance I would highly recommend glissading down a volcano.
On a different note, at our hostel we discovered a new phenomenon – bicycling around the world. It turns out our hostel owners (Beat and Claudia) went on a 2.5-year bicycle adventure around the world in the early 90s before settling in Villarrica, and apparently there are quite a few other round-the-world bicyclists. In fact, a very popular journey is to start in Alaska , USA, and bike all the way down to Ushuaia, Argentina (15 months or so). Mighty impressive!
At the summit of Volcano Villarrica
You crack me up! That post just made me giggle from start to finish, and the videos are awesome. I think I’d like to try glissading…although the whole hiking w/the axe to the top of the volcano thing might not be as fun-I’d be the one on the ski lift!