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Section 1: Click on the "i"s above for information and photos of the route. |
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Refugio Picada is currently being rebuilt (January 2004); they are just starting to build a frame on top of the foundations. When completed, it will offer spectacular views of Volcan Osorno (the picture on the left was taken from their premises) that will match anything the Lago Todos los Santos side has to offer. Plus it has the additional advantages of being relatively free of day-trippers and of being a fairly easy hike up to the dust and rock of the volcano itself. The climb becomes quite steep just as the tree cover becomes less frequent, the road occasionally splitting - one route heading straight up while the other winds along switchbacks. Both reach the same point, so which to take is the hiker's choice! After 1.5 to 2 hrs, the trees give way completely to black and grey dust and rock. On a hot day the temperature can be fierce. Despite the lack of animal life on the volcano, except the occasional hiker, in the summer there can be quite a few tavanos ( large Chilean horse flies ) that would like a feed and circle loudly and incessantly to find one. The three public refugios on the volcano itself (rather than the commercial one being rebuilt further down) have been destroyed by the Park to try to combat the rats that spread the deadly Hanta virus. The remains of the third refugio (also called refugio La Picada) and the trees surrounding it offer the only shade available until past the Paso Desolation. There is just about enough room to pitch a two person tent next to the refugio to gain shade and temporary relief from the tavanos. If running low on water, this is probably the best spot to wait out the heat of the day before hiking on as the sun lowers.