Cajon de Maipo (Maipo Canyon)

This weekend I joined my DGF colleagues, and their families, at a refugio (cabin) up in the Maipo Canyon to celebrate 2 retirements and generally have a good time. Ricardo and I left Santiago about 8:45, and we rendevouxed with the others at the country home of Pepe -- about 2 hrs SW of Stgo. into the Andes. We were initially dismayed when we heard the Carabineros (police) had closed the road due to heavy snow. But we waited a few more hours, and rented a different form of transport (trading our large bus for 2 small vans), and made it up the mountain to the refugio.

When we arrived, we were treated to a spectacular display of heavy wet snow! Probably 20" of it still on the ground (I would not be surprised if the official total was more than 30"... the liquid water content was high and a lot of it melted). We ate a leisurely lunch and headed out for a short hike around the refugio. Now you can imagine if you have 20" (about 50cm) of fresh powder, a large playful group, and 7 kids ages 14 and younger, it didn't take long for the first snowball to fly. And what a "guerra de la nieve" it was (snow war!) I was dubbed "el gigante" and frequently targeted ("ataque el gigante!!"), but I also created my fair share of mayhem!

After the snowball fight, we settled down for a grand feast of meat and drink -- which we had brought from Santiago. My task was to buy a cake and take it to the refugio -- a task made harder by the fact that (1) the cake "box" was not very sturdy nor suited for long-distance travel; (2) the cream on the cake top started to melt after removed from the refrigerator; and (3) the furrgon (small minibus / van) that took us from San Gabriel up to the refugio (past the pueblo of "El Volcan") wasnt able to climb the icy driveway, so we had to walk carrying the cake that final 500 yards -- through knee-deep snow, icy patches, and small lakes in the driveway. But the cake - and all the other stuff, along with us! - made it, and we consumed all with gusto. After eating, we watched a slideshow of the 2 professors who are retiring, and then played a dice game called "dudo" (doubt).

In the morning, we were treated to some spectacular scenery as the sun glimmered off the snow-capped mountains. We hiked down to a small lake near the refugio - where we fought the Second Battle of La Guerra de la Nieve - and took some pictures. The weekend wrapped up with us waiting a few hours for our transport to come back to get us, and I returned to my department here in Santiago about 8:30 pm. I think everyone had a great time - and I definitely know I did!

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**Photo captions are ABOVE the figure**

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Professors gathered at Pepe's house, as we decide what to do about all the snow up in the mountains. Clockwise, from L to R: Rene (purple coat), Humberto, Pepe, Ricardo, Rodrigo.


The view from Casa Bosque (where Pepe's house is ... his house is in front of me, not the one in this picture). We're about 1 hr outside of the center of Santiago.


A map of the region where we went. The main city is San Jose de Maipo, and we went all the way up to and past "El Volcan." The large volcano in many of the subsequent photos is called "Volcan San Jose" and is over 5800 m tall (that's about 19000 feet!)


Ready to head up the mountain, from the Plaza San Jose de Maipo.


The road was one-lane at times.


The snowline. At this point we're about 900 m in elevation, headed to about 1800 m. (3000 feet, going toward 6000 feet).


The final rendevous point, San Gabriel, where we left behind our cars and piled into Furrgones (mini-vans).
Here we have Vivi and Mark, with Catalina, Bernardette, and Patricio in the background.

Vivi, Cata, and Berna, ready to go.

Me sporting my indigenous-meets-euro look.


Above the snowline now. About 1" of precip fell in Santiago the night before we went up, and that translated into 10-30" of snow, depending on the valley.


One of our furrgon transports, the yellow school mini-van in front.


Piled in and ready to get there!


The snowpack increased as we continued up the mountain.


Eventually the furrgones couldn't make it up the driveway (it was too steep & icy), so we got out and walked.


Excited to arrive for sure!


Finally, the entrance. Only a few hundred feet to go. Thanks, Mark, for carrying the cake!


Lunch and rest at the Refugio (basically a log cabin).


The pueblo (small town) of Lo Valdes below the refugio.


The skies began to clear but the snow remained.


A short hike up above the refugio ... and Andrés begins the "guerra de la nieve" (snowball fight).


¡¡Guerra!!

Amazing contrast... blue, white, and gray! The mountain in the distant, on the right, is the Volcano San Jose (19,000 feet).


Sunset in the mountains.

Mmmm. Our dinner. Lamb, beef, and pork "asado" (grilled).


The side dishes: salad, potatoes, and bread.


Ready to eat!


Feliz cumpleaños, Pepe!


Who ate more? Me or Catalina?


The retirement presentation, to honor Humberto and Pepe for their 40 years each.


Sunrise in the mountains!


Breakfast: bread, jam, butter, and eggs. Coffee and tea to drink.


Outside the refugio. One night cost about $20. (The total weekend cost for me was $100, which included lodging, all meals, and transport there & back again).


Sunrise over the volcano (on the right... no that's not smoke, just a cloud!)


Mark, Vivi, and me.


Getting ready for the official group shot (taken by Rodrigo's camera).


A short hike down to the small pond (laguna). Fortunately, although the snow was deep, the air temps were quite mild... 50s to higher, depending on the sun.


Ready for a nice hike ... and round 2 of the Guerra!


The frozen lake... obviously it had been colder in the previous days & nights.


I really like this view... up-valley toward the volcano. Both of those peaks are on the border of Chile & Argentina, so we were probably only 20 miles from the border.


Catalina catching some sun before lunch.


Lunchtime. I had soup & leftover meat from the previous night's cookout.


Of course we'd make some snow people.


Final view, as sun is setting, of the volcano.


Tired, a little sunburned, and waiting for the transport to come get us & take us back to the cars.


Last view as we descended the mountain.