limits Pathfinder
Thursday, Cosmonaut Telescope is back, and he was therefore entitled to rest for six days. We decided to take this opportunity to make a little trip. The problem is that winter is approaching and it is no longer possible to climb to altitude too. It was a dry year and there is not too much snow up there, but every day, heavy snowfall can occur. Doing a climb is quite dangerous. Moreover, May 18, Chile commemorated the third anniversary of the death of 45 soldiers in the military base that froze during training Antuco Volcano. Their leaders did not think the time could really deteriorate and they have to climb more than 2500m without equipment against the cold. Winter is different in Chile than in the Alps, the weather changes quickly and weather is not as precise. Above all, you do not have a road in almost every valley, the mobile network and mountain rescue.
So we decided to go explore the valley which leads Cruz de Piedra, Argentina. The road passes through a neck 4000mètres and beside Volcane Maipo. The summit, we would also do well one day and find the first entry is not a bad idea. The only problem is that there is a pipeline that passes through the valley and you can not get there without special permission. But with the cosmonaut, forming a strong team. There, during the endless nights at the telescope, reads all the forums climbers to find information and then me, I use them in reality to overcome administrative barriers. After two days of searching for the person responsible, I finally got the address of Karen, the person Gasco. And she gave me permission. Miracle. By cons, she told me that in this time of year, the road is already blocked by mud and sunk it will not go to Argentina. The information was confirmed by a police officer in San Gabriel where we wanted to be able to stamp the passport to leave Chile legally. He said that even if we happen to pass, it would be illegal because it is allowed to pass through the cervix between November and March. We said we'll just go see the volcano and the Laguna del Diamante.
Gasco The door opened with our magic letter. The lady at the door told us that apart an Argentine, it was only in the valley. Only! Only in a valley sixty miles, a valley that culminated in the neck 4000mètres the valley surrounded by white peaks. One advanced and one saw more clearly than when the weather would begin to deteriorate, it would leave the valley. The road was just as usual on clay interrupted by streams which, without doubt, become rivers and streams when it rains, the road and they bring with them. That is probably why the Chileans do not bother to pave roads in the mountains. The road is just part bypassed by at least a more convenient and traffic is restored.
After two hours of the road, we passed around a small power plant that is used for the pipeline and where we saw the Argentine working with the lady at the entrance we talked. A little way further towards the bridge, one has guessed the baths. But we wanted to go to the volcano, and we therefore did not stop. But a little further, we got arrested.
A mudslide on the road. The flows are quite common in the Andes. Dry soil without vegetation teems with rain in the valley and blocking roads. After a while the mud hardens. And it was exactly this hardened mud that was in our way. Two high slope with a stream media watched Pathfinder with superiority. So we decided to make a half turn and go the baths. Except that they were not found. A total failure, whatever.
We made our camp near the power plant, casting and the thermal baths found.
the morning we had a little more courage and decided to start the day with a visit to the Argentine. The man, a copy of Alberto Granado in The Motorcycle Diaries, has called "che" in almost all sentences. He told us that they, they will return to Argentina and Chile by the sudden we saw the road blocked is not really their problem. By cons, he told us where the baths were hiding. Like I said, the maps, it is a problem in Chile, and with our map, it was very difficult to find these baths. But cons, as directed by the Argentine, they saw right away.
The bathrooms were gorgeous, as because the valley is inaccessible to the public, the water is stirred very little is often full of algae. Then we went alone. Great.
After bathing, it was felt more and stronger and we thought we could go see the mudslide. It looked, it was discussed and finally went there. And after a few minutes, was on the other side. Like that.
So, we could explore the rest of the valley. We knew that nobody spent a few months after the police left the hut at the border. There were other mudslides to cross, but none as impressive. On the way, we saw a herd of llamas guanacos, one of two species of wild llama. You can watch the photos on flicker. It is mounted and finally, we saw the volcano Maipo in clouds . But the road began to be covered by snow and we saw that it would be impossible to move the neck. It was therefore merely a short walk on the slopes where the bright colors showing volcanic activity. Found sources colorful, but not warm enough for swimming. That evening they decided to return to the baths. It was therefore recrosses the mudslide. Pathfinder has provided yet, but I must say that when I saw his muffler dive into the ground, I thought he just become incomplete. But no, the exhaust has reappeared, he spat with some angry earth and Pathfinder went on. The cosmonaut has insisted I take a picture during this voyage, but as a photographer, I failed completely in the moment when a wheel of the Pathfinder appeared one meter below the casting. I see that the limits of Pa thfinder are far beyond the limits of my fear.
Once properly installed in hot water, were reviewed Alberto Granado to approach with a can of wine he has shared with us in a friendly gesture. The South Americans in general hate the Argentinians, they say that it proud people. But in our experience, it's mostly Chileans are little elves with a little belly that never smile and feed products that are probably manufactured during the recyclable plastic bottles, while the Argentines is Fine friendly kids who have manners.
After bathing, we went to the same location as the previous day to camp. And the morning we began to realize that the time was becoming increasingly ill and eventually got really bad. On the peaks around snowed that fell on our heads in the version "rain". Without breakfast, everything was put in the car and we left in civilization. We wanted to go get gas and then continue to Baños de Colina, baths. On the way, we saw a flight of condors , flying in circles, without doubt, over a dead cow. Take
gasoline in San Jose got up complicated because, as it rained, the station was without power. Normally, when it rains. The station employee told us that he put the current in half an hour. But we are not as low in Chile since it is not known for a half hour, it could be tomorrow. We then discussed to reach a decision, but miraculously, the current was surrendered and were therefore able to take the essence.
On the way to Baños de Colina, we saw that the way that we spent there one month to go to Cerro Moai has changed. Some mudslides released showed that the Andes defend themselves well against the human effort to switch with cars.
Then we saw freshly fallen rocks on the road. Here is the video. Well, that, Pathfinder will not happen!
Finally, we arrived in Baños de Colina, the largest baths Cajon de Maipo. The rain turned into snow and it will be understood that the only visitors. So, we said welcome to winter. Hot water. Moreover, the white stuff in the hair of the Cosmonaut is snow.
We had one more free day before us, but we decided that winter is really here and it would be more fun to watch from the windows of our apartment . But we can not wait to get our ski touring and tested at Cerro Parva. Once Pathfinder is baptized by the snow, you can not wait to leave our skis!
PS All the pictures are there .
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