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Ascent of Volcán Villarrica - A Photojournal
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Captions to photos and movies.
1. A view to
the south from Pucón, of Volcán Villarrica - overlooking a scenic
Marina on Lago Villarrica. All of this beautiful countryside has been devastated
at least twice in the last 14,000 years, during eruptions of the Licán
and Pucón Ignimbrites. More recently smaller pyroclastic flows have poured
down valleys visible on the north flank of the volcano, entering into regions
near the Pucón city limits. 
2. The climb
generally starts at Villarrica
ski area, and takes about 3 hours (to the summit). Guides are required,
but are easy to find in Pucón. I climbed with a friendly group of folks
led by very professional guides from Politour.
3. Beautiful
view looking to the north from above the top of the ski runs, towards Lago Villarrica
and the town of Pucón (middle ground).
4. Interlayered
lava flows and pyroclastic rocks reminds me I'm climbing a composite
volcano. The scenery was remarkably reminiscent of that around volcanoes
I've climbed in the Cascade Mountains
of Oregon and Washington.
5. The ski area
used to extend somewhat higher up the flank of the volcano than it does today.
This is the remnants of one of the upper lifts, apparently badly damaged and
subsequently abandoned after the last eruption in 1984
(for English-only speakers refer to this
site).
6. Pretty typical
slog up a snow-slope on the flank of a mid-latitude composite volcano.
7. Closing in
on the summit we noticed periodic "puffs" of steam appearing above
the summit region (mixed with lots of SO2, and, based on the smell,
some sulfuric acid as well).
8. Mosaic of
images illustrating the summit crater region.
9. Close-up of
the crater area. Note the tenuous SO2-dominated plume rising from
the crater. Also note the smooth mantling on the opposite wall of the crater.
This was apparently left over after the 1984
eruption. During that rather mild eruption, gas-poor magma ascended within the
crater and overflowed the rim at several low points. After the eruption the
magma column withdrew to roughly its current position about 70-80 meters below
the crater rim, and, remarkably, has remained their since that time.
10. Steam fumarole
along the upper rim of the crater.
11. Debris thrown
up onto the rim of the crater during a recent "vent-cleaning" eruption.
These minor eruptions occur periodically after the lava-lake has "crusted-over",
and probably constitute the greatest hazard to climbers in the summit area.
12. Gas sampling
station supporting work by Jeff
Whitter (University of Washington) re. The volatile budget of Volcán
Villarrica.
13. Fracture
opening in snow-pack along the crater rim. One of our guides speculated that
periodically large slabs of ice break off and tumble into the lava lake below.
This process probably produces small hydrovolcanic eruptions at the volcano.
14. Finally,
a look into the crater; note the distinctive bluish cast of the SO2-plume.
15. Active period
of convection within the lava lake (approximately 40 meters across). Magma appeared
to be rising from the margins and sinking in the center of the lake. Occasional
weak strombolian eruption occurred throwing blobs of lava 10 to 20 meters above
the level of the lake (but - fortunately - well below our level!). I was lucky
to catch the vent while it was open; it commonly crusts over, as shown at this
link.
16. Similar
to photograph number 15.
17. When convection
in the lake slackened it began to immediately crust over, as seen here.
18. A 15 second
QuickTime movie of the lava lake.
19. Another
15 second QuickTime movie of the lava lake.
20. Returning
to the crater rim for a look around.
21. Views to
the east (top) and west (bottom) of Villarrica. The eastern view is taken over
the spectacular ice-field filling in the Villarrica-Stage-I caldera. The eastern
rim of the 5-km-dia. caldera is visible in the middle ground. In the distance
you can see the other major edifices of the Lanín - Villarrica volcanic
chain.
22. Gratuitous
photo of the author on the crater rim.
23. Long glissades
on snow-fields are the norm for mid-latitude mountains. One difference here
is that frequent small eruptions and Aeolian processes have loaded the snow
with small cinders. Note a problem unless your trousers aren't up to the task
(I can attest to the fact that Levis are not!).
24. Back to
Pucón and time for una cerveza fría.
