February 21 - Santuario de Cani

Santuariao de Cani is a private reserve east of Pucon, whose purpose is the preservation of the Aruacaria (Monkey Puzzle) forests in the area.  Our purpose is to have a look around and to climb to the Mirador (viewpoint) Cani.  Here's their website if you are interested 
http://www.santuariocani.cl/

Another early get up for a local bus.  This one isn't so punctual, but we get out there with no problems and are dropped off.  The entrance fee is not much (3000 Cp, or $6), so I don't see how they can fund themselves - a lot of the economics in Chile escape me.

Here's a map of the reserve.  We follow the wiggly red line from bottom to top left.  The first section is a steep old road, described as "4x4 Extremo."  It's deteriorated and is no '4x4 No Way" - maybe a quad could get up it.

We spot this tree on the way up.  It's trunk looks like an Arbutus.  It is called 'Arrayan' or Luma Apiculata (Laura made me add the Latin name).

We climb 600 meters up to the Refugio.  We are still early  in the morning, so we are on the shady side of the hill and it is nice & cool (photo was from the afternoon).

Inside the Refugio (shelter).  Unfortunately, it's seen better days.











Here's their 'Bano with a View.'









And me demonstrating proper use of the Bano.  One has to wonder how old (& rotten) the seat is.  Reminds me of a joke about a quarter.

Another trail leads up from the Refugio to a flat plateau with a number of lakes..  The woods have had some logging in the past, 
accessed from the east side of the mountain.

Another climb up and we are on top (1550 meters).  We're still below the treeline, but get some great views.  We can see 4 volcanoes.  This is Lanin, approximately southeast of us.

Turning clockwise and looking almost south is this fellow, Quetrapillan.  Just in front and to the right is an old cinder cone.




Next is Villarrica again, still the most prominent locally.  It has a small ski hill, hidden on the other side.

And the last of the volcanoes we can see is Llaima, north of us.

My thanks to Andre at the hostel (ecole) who helped me identify the volcanoes with the help of local maps.








Still at  he top, looking down, are a couple of the small lakes with campers' tents.  We passed nobody on the way up in the morning, and 15 or so on the way down.  It seems everybody waits for the afternoon to hike.

Geese on the way down.

The last lake on the way out, still on the plateau, with cattle!  We were told they are now wild.  Not sure how wild, as we had to shoo one out of our way on the climb up.  We found cow paddies remarkably high up on the trail.

Last photo, taken from the top is Lago Carburgua. The scenery in every direction was gorgeous.

We climbed down, made it to the bus stop with 10 minutes to spare (according to the schedule) and then waited over an hour for the bus.  The bus is supposed to do a loop from Pucon, up the valley and back.  No buses passed in either direction, until suddenly 3 passed by in 15 minutes going up the valley.  I guess they had all decided to have coffee in Pucon.  One came back and we got our ride back.

Off to Puerto Varas today which may not show up on your map (its near Puerto Montt).  We'll be there for four days.  Talk to you later.