TouringTip | Puyehue Volcano

The hut is more of a better shelter than a hut in the sense of European Alpine Club huts. There is a working wood-burning stove and bunk beds without mattresses or other bedding, as well as an outhouse behind the hut in the forest. Wood is also available in the forest in the form of dead trees. It is better not to rely on dry, already chopped wood. Depending on the snow conditions, you can fetch water from a nearby stream. As people sometimes leave food in the hut, you should stow your own food in a mouse-proof place. The tour can also be done in one day, but is much more relaxed if you stay overnight, especially if you want to spend some time at the crater. In addition to occasional skiers, mainly from North America and Europe, local snowshoers also visit the hut. Especially on nice weekends, you are therefore not necessarily alone, and from the hut you have a beautiful view of the ascent route to the summit. As with most typical ski volcanoes in the area, there is only one possible direction: upwards. Depending on the snow and your personal taste, follow the gullies and hollows up to the crater. The terrain is mostly not steep, apart from a short ascent before the last ridge to the summit, which is perhaps better tackled on foot in hard snow. following the logical course of the terrain from the hut, you will more or less automatically reach the highest point of the crater (2240m) after about 600 meters in altitude. If you want to descend into the crater, it is best to follow the crater rim a little to the east (looking into the crater to the right). This will take you to the entrance of a wide gully, through which you can usually enter the crater relatively easily. Everywhere else, the lines into the crater are much steeper and sometimes exposed. If you want to ride something here, it is advisable to climb it beforehand or take a very close look at it. The lines are short, but they are tough and even in favorable conditions there is often an ice slab hiding somewhere. In general, you shouldn't expect to find powder here where you can throw yourself down the volcano spines like in All.I.Can. Blown-off, hard snow is much more likely. At Fundo el Caulle, skiers may be advised to head straight for the film lines, which are the best for skiing. If you are given such advice, bear in mind that the person giving the information only knows the film and does not ski himself... The descent to the hut and the starting point is the same as the ascent. Alternatively, the tour can of course be extended to the other side of the crater, where there are hot springs some distance away (quite far as a day tour) and extensive, domed volcanic terrain.