Route Climbed: Standard route - north side Date Climbed: November 03 2005
Early season attempt with ¨Sol y Nieve¨. Iffy conditions from the off. Walked up the road and then up the lift lines to about 300m above the Chapel where the guide called it in a white out, 80 kph winds and -10 deg temps. Icy crust with polystyrene snow underneath which we broke through to frequently. Stinging horiziontal hail on the way down. Even easy hills can kick you in the butt sometimes!!
At least the weather was also bad the following day.
Started around midnight with Alexander from Switzerland in Pucon and walked all the way to the summit with plastic boots. Nervertheless we had to pay the Park entrance fee, because a ranger was also waiting during the night.
Arrived on the summit around noon. Unfortunately we saw no lava in the crater thus the level was to low.
Route Climbed: The touristy one, I guess Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2000
My first snow climb.
Even though it was during the austral summer, the volcano was still ice covered from the middle up. It´s pretty damned hard to climb such a steep slope on snow and using ski boots (one had to have them on because of the crampons one might need along the way). I cursed myself so many times that day for having taken up smoking.
Finally, after some 6 hours o so, we reached the summit. The view of the whole Lagos region of Chile was more than what I had bargained for.
p.s. I got the worst sunburn of my life there. I even shed burned skin from my head under my hair, and from my earlobes.
Route Climbed: Ski Area Route Date Climbed: July 2002
I summited to do a snowboard descent. The conditions were pretty marginal for skiing when I was there. So the descent was not that great. We also had limited time at the summit because a storm was moving in and we didn't really want to be caught in it.
The climb itself is pretty easy and only took us 2 hours from the top of the lift.
The climb was guided by a Pulitour guide named Claudio.
Ski Mountaineer - Dec 18, 2006 5:30 pm
with skisAnother great ski descent.
fridday - Oct 11, 2006 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2006
Unauthorized from the Mirador los craters and backDidn't make it to the crater rim, but a great long snowboard run in very good snow conditions all the way. Fun!
TheBootfitter - Jul 26, 2006 11:19 pm
Standard RouteFun snow hike and excellent glissade down! Caution: Hold your breath if you look down into the crater. (I still cough just thinking about it!)
Scrambling Man - Feb 18, 2006 11:03 pm Date Climbed: Nov 8, 2003
Beautiful VolcanoWe climbed Villarica as one of pre-climbs to Aconcagua. Great views of the lakes and mountains.
vancouver islander - Nov 4, 2005 10:33 am
Route Climbed: Standard route - north side Date Climbed: November 03 2005Early season attempt with ¨Sol y Nieve¨. Iffy conditions from the off. Walked up the road and then up the lift lines to about 300m above the Chapel where the guide called it in a white out, 80 kph winds and -10 deg temps. Icy crust with polystyrene snow underneath which we broke through to frequently. Stinging horiziontal hail on the way down. Even easy hills can kick you in the butt sometimes!!
At least the weather was also bad the following day.
bauerbrian - Aug 30, 2005 8:32 am
Route Climbed: ski area Date Climbed: December 2002Fun!
Bergrot - Jul 29, 2005 12:17 pm
Route Climbed: normal Date Climbed: 5 Jan 2003Started around midnight with Alexander from Switzerland in Pucon and walked all the way to the summit with plastic boots. Nervertheless we had to pay the Park entrance fee, because a ranger was also waiting during the night.
Arrived on the summit around noon. Unfortunately we saw no lava in the crater thus the level was to low.
cuyaya - Jul 15, 2004 1:22 pm
Route Climbed: The touristy one, I guess Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2000My first snow climb.
Even though it was during the austral summer, the volcano was still ice covered from the middle up. It´s pretty damned hard to climb such a steep slope on snow and using ski boots (one had to have them on because of the crampons one might need along the way). I cursed myself so many times that day for having taken up smoking.
Finally, after some 6 hours o so, we reached the summit. The view of the whole Lagos region of Chile was more than what I had bargained for.
p.s. I got the worst sunburn of my life there. I even shed burned skin from my head under my hair, and from my earlobes.
hhsilleck - Jan 10, 2004 7:39 pm
Route Climbed: from ski area Date Climbed: February 2003Easy hike to the summit on snow slopes. Fumes and volcanic grumblings make the summit an exciting place.
Pedro Hauck - Oct 20, 2003 11:06 pm
Route Climbed: normal Date Climbed: march 2000incredible volcano!
jbebop - Jun 1, 2003 3:50 pm
Route Climbed: Ski Area Route Date Climbed: July 2002I summited to do a snowboard descent. The conditions were pretty marginal for skiing when I was there. So the descent was not that great. We also had limited time at the summit because a storm was moving in and we didn't really want to be caught in it.
The climb itself is pretty easy and only took us 2 hours from the top of the lift.
The climb was guided by a Pulitour guide named Claudio.
D Smith - Feb 13, 2003 12:41 am
Route Climbed: Standard route from Villarica ski area Date Climbed: February 8, 2003Fun hike up moderate snow slopes on a sunny summer's day. Great views of surrounding lakes and volcanoes. Sulphur fumes are not a lot of fun...
Definitely worth taking a pair of skis up this hill if you get a chance.