I have not had much time to write in the last days. The cosmonaut is in Santiago, I'm working, I'm learning Portuguese and most importantly, our lives become more social important. Tuesday night, Ruben, a new postdoc in the Centre, came to see our apartment to see what to expect in Chile at that level. We wanted to compare it with apts in Vitacura and Las Condes where we spent the weekend booze. For the last weekend, it was so bad we did not come out the nose of Santiago. Fortunately, the cosmonaut was not pressed to go skiing since Sunday afternoon because of rain, the road collapsed Farellones four places leaving two dead. Compared to that, the 1300 people who were trapped in the stations below Farellones, it's nothing serious, but not still ask me how many foreigners have not missed their plane. Because people were not "released" on Monday night.
But to talk about Ruben that he came to see us Tuesday night. He came with other friends of the Observatory and for the first time we had the opportunity to test the strength of our neighbors in the night. And, as I thought, one minute after midnight, the phone rang for the guard to tell us that our neighbor had awakened. Without doubt the one that complains that I shook the water from the window and called the guard when she hears a noise unauthorized. It turned out the music and tried in measurement possible, speak softly, but apparently that was not enough. In the end, the guard came to see him and he had to find that the noise is not outrageous, because after we had more phone calls. Who would expect it to Chile! But they could continue to party and it would be nice if the cosmonaut had not remembered that he had a bottle of visnovice home freezer. The next day I could not attend the courses conducted, even if they were in the afternoon. Well, it happens.
Friday evening, as it seemed that the weekend will be no rain, no rain expected as this was the case of the last two, we decided to go in the Cajon de Maipo. I've already told you that we tried to ski touring in the Reserva del Morado, but I was sick and a great Cacamolle and we could not do anything. Friday night, we still planned to sleep in the Refugio Lo Valdes . But Friday was Friday, Sept. 11 (not 10 as I wrote in the book, but that I have settled on Friday morning by phone) and it is the anniversary of the death of Allende and military coup in 1973. At four o'clock in the afternoon, knowing that a night in the snow waiting for me, I went to Santa Lucia for me purchase of a sweater in wool Chiloé. But to my surprise, I have not been able to get into the subway. Neither the first nor second nor third. So I decided to walk into a library and walking, I called Karen to say hello. She advised me not to go in the center, because apparently in Chile, Sept. 11, there are cars that burn, the .... that spurt water and tap underneath the demonstrators with police. That's why everyone runs away at work in the afternoon. I mean, to get home before the demonstrations, not to fight with the cops, of course! Karen me said that the transit stops normally about three hours and it's very odd that I even saw a few metros. Yes, I saw the subways, for cons, I have not seen any fighting. But Pedro told me that there were petrol bomb thrown into a street next to their house, stories about the protesters are not entirely a fantasy. In any case, foresight, I returned home for leave as soon as possible Vitacura, at work or he's waiting for me with Cosmonaut Pathfinder loaded. I knew that the trip to Vitacura take a long time. And it did. The two buses that I saw refused to take me and then finally I took a taxi. And then we were in el taco , plugs. The taxi driver told me that there is such a mess at this hour because of 11. Apparently, even the drivers want to go earlier. I do not know if September 11 is really that dangerous or if it's more traditional Chilean paranoia combined with the possibility to start the weekend a little early for a good reason. Anyway, the taxi driver was so sorry for the time we spent in traffic that made me a small discount. Nice!
I arrived at the Observatory to 18 hours. We went to Refugio. The route usually take half past one ET was there ever imagine what it's Gave beef in red wine by talking to the keeper of the shelter and Pedro who was also out there trying to pass his days of rest after her stay in Telescope. But an hour and a half after the beginning, there was still Americo Vespucio, the device of Santiago. It has been suggested for small steps and dream of a good dinner has begun to reduce the dream to come again that night at the Refugio. And we saw that it was not won when we arrived in San Gabriel where a police post guarding the entrance in the Cajon de Maipo. Usually, the police let you go without asking you what it is, but as it was dark, and most nights Sept. 11, we got arrested. Where are we going? We will climb a peak. "Now?" the officer asked. No, not now, now is the time that the kitchen at Refugio is being closed. But the keeper's wife has promised to leave us a sandwich. But the arrival was not won, we had to enter the station, the police officer, during the 11 decorated with a metal helmet and a gun, told us.
And so we went to register. In the small police station shabby, a policeman's ears off, the same like the time we went into the valley to the Maipo Volcano, sat. He asked for our papers and we gave him our IDs Chile. Our cards are diplomatic, which has a huge drawback: they are blue and different from those available to Chileans, and nobody understands that it is therefore of identity cards. The officer then took our maps, he looked, turned, put one next to another, back again, gave the left right and of left and right when you've already begun to suspect that soon, there will be smoke coming out of his ears, he spoke softly: "This is not an identity card." We tried to explain and was told that our PPR (ID) is different because we do not the Chileans. The officer, continuing his small gym with our cards, asked, and where you work? And how did you come to Chile? Pucha, I thought, it is possible that nature is allowed to astronomers and psychologists! And of course ilegal immigrants! When he saw that his questions lead nowhere, he asked us if we did not have another card that would prove our identity. The cosmonaut took out his French identity card and I, as usual, I used my driver's license. It was only after the officer had my license that I realized that I just gave my license invalid Chile to Chilean a policeman. And wonder if the Chilean validation that would allow me to drive, I can not do to give him, because I have not and Comsonaute either, because it is completely out rule. But luckily the officer was obsessed by the mystery of our identity cards. In the end, he shook his head and he left. I hoped he would seek his head, but no. He returned with his police card. "Look," he said, "What you give me is like that. "He showed us his card to a policeman." policeman's my card. "Yes, yes, you see." And this, "he continued showing us his identity card, "is my identity card." He paused dramatically. "cop card" he repeated to be sure we understood. "And the ID card." A look round. "But you're not here for the first time, you!" he said, "You have a Pathfinder, is not it?"
Come on. He left us to fill out a paper and he let us pass, perhaps by sympathy to our beloved vehicle. And all that, that we took only half hour.
At ten hours, finally, it has opened the door of Refugio. We ate our sandwiches and we began talking with Pedro and the guard until midnight.
The morning sunlight woke us up. On my lips, a big herpes has grown, perhaps because the stress of the day. I do not know, I have a sort of allergy to the mountain. But it was time to go to the Reserva Morado. The entrance to the reserve was closed due to a "sporting event". And the event was kept, of course, by the Chilean police. I asked them if they could enter. They have confirmed that there was no problem, but as soon as I turned to go back to our car miraculous, the officer stopped me and asked, and you do what? A summit, I say. And camping? Yes. So that, no. Prohibited. Too many accidents. Danger! Ah, what they are drunk Chileans with their paternalism!
We went to check the information with the keeper of the reservation. He asked us if we had the sleeping bag and tent. Yes? Then, he'll register as Montanist and everything will be perfect. In our responsibility.
All content, so we left on skis in the valley to El Morado. Our goal was to make a base camp deep in the valley and up the next day El Mirador (3883m). It was very hot. Everywhere on the slopes, there were avalanches that have fallen in the past week and twice we were forced to cross them. The bags were heavy, yet, around three hours, was at the bottom of the valley. It has assembled the tent and was melted snow e to make a soup. When the sun set behind the mountain, we snuck into our small house whose floor was very cold and we were heated with the soup. Then read a little and the topo around eight hours night we fell asleep. I was afraid of cold, but finally I slept like a baby. Evidence that the cosmonaut as well is that at five o'clock in the morning, we're not hearing the alarm and woke up so we do that to six hours. What would be better advertising for "Alka" Cervenkova Jana, the woman who sewed our sleeping bags?
We quickly drank some tea and we went out. And looking at the sky, we realized why it was so hot. Because the sky was overcast. Cursed the weather, so we waited with the climb at the end there will go with the clouds! It took the skins and Fogue had gone. First through a corridor, then to a Frogbit. I did not like the idea of all the avalanches that have fallen, because I thought, who knows how many there are who are still waiting to fall? I walked quickly to release the fastest this damn hill. Plus, I figured that the snow has melted the day before, and it has refrozen reform world not covered in the day. The dream of a skier, what. My bag was heavy with all these ax-studs-machine and I could already see how I go down the hallway with my backpack. In addition, it was not at all the terrain elevation. Well, the cosmonaut said that the days and are great for learning to ski, but I could not help thinking the best of the day, it would find Pathfinder. We continued to climb with knives, because the slope was slippery. The glacier, I was already pretty tired. I do not know why, but since the ascent of Cerro Moai, I tired quickly. Or maybe I feel it more. Or, simply, I am a Cacamolle. And it was wrong. I said I wanted to Cosmonaut down, because in any case, it would not happen at the top. If we wanted to go to the summit, we risk another night in the tent. In addition, I said, we had told the police and they returned to the custodian on Sunday and we had an obligation to unsubscribe so that they no we want it! It was an argument moron, because I knew what's on paper, it is quickly forgotten and we would remember these registration cards once in the spring, we should identify the bodies. The cosmonaut told me it was just my fear of avalanches and stone and finished by saying: "If it's like that, I do not take you with me to La Paloma!" Ah yes, to punish me, I can not climb a peak of five million. It was very relevant in the situation.
And so we began the descent. I fell at least a hundred times and a hundred times I get up with the big bag. Still, it seems, I have derived no benefit during ski Cosmonaut. But to flexion-extension of the legs after a climb and with 15 kilos on your back, it's more than Cacamolle can do.
In the base camp, we folded the tent and continued the descent. A little further down the valley, was backcrossed two Chileans who camped out there just to enjoy the cold. They were the only people to be so far into the valley with us. "You have a can opener?" They shouted when they saw us. Bah now, at least someone who was saved by our early descent.
And here we are finally home. I'm not going to cook tonight, I'm too tired, I'll just order a bit of sushi. Good chance to say he did not personally Cosmonaut enjoy my current handling chopsticks.
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