DIAMOND LAKE - Coming Home
Maipo volcano
Maipo volcano
Maipo Volcano The beauty of the mountains surrounding the Laguna del Diamante, among which stands majestically Maipo Volcano, together with the blue mirror of water, are a sight to be known and admired. Especially when the volcano is reflected in the lagoon. Guanacos, red foxes, and condors, ma'am its presence in the area. Despite having no indigenous fish the lagoon was planted with trout, many years ago, being a major sport fishing activity in the summer.
surround the lagoon environment important stories that are revived when a strong wind blowing sleet and white tinged landscape.
The June, 1930, when, having left from the airfield in Colina, Chile, crossing the Andes with mail, by a snowstorm Henri Guillaumet's plane has to make a forced landing near the lagoon. During the same roof, saving the life miraculously. Digging a well takes refuge under the canopy of the device and surrounded by the postal bags, holding a cold standby for two days. Then walk up the mountain and after 5 days comes close to a hut where he sees Juan Gualberto Garcia, 14, who assists with his mother. Is then retrieved by his friend Saint-Exupéry.
After the tragedy of August 1953, when the Army conducted exercises in the area, with the support of scouts there. Having left the shelter Cruz de Piedra a contingent of 35 soldiers for the recognition of the passage north of Alvarado-Maipo volcano slopes and run practices, they are caught in a storm. They are divided into groups trying to return and the last consisting of 4 people were killed by freezing. Also another 4, which awaited its arrival, also died. The bulk of the contingent that awaited them, go ahead and lost during the following days, whipped by the and snow storm, 14 people.
Expedition conducted from 15 to 17 February 2007.
Position and Altitude
The estimated position is: S 34 ° or 69 ° 09,500 and 50,000. The height of 5,323 meters above sea level Volcano
Its name derives from the word Araucanian Mapuche more precisely, "Mapu" meaning "Indian Territory" Access
Natural Reserve Laguna del Diamante, is located in the Department of San Carlos, about 200 km meaningful distance southwest of the capital of Mendoza. It can be accessed by Route 40, coming after overcoming a Pareditas Tunuyán (S33 ° 57.083 -O69 ° 04.065; 1,097 m), where the asphalt ends. It may proceed through two routes consolidated, continued 40 or 101, up to the approximate position (S34-O69 ° 12.337 ° 07.228; 1,530 m), where you have to forward, for good track, in a West, towards the area of \u200b\u200bthe lagoon.
Members of the expedition
Jaime Suarez. Ariel Sergio Mercado and Carlos Rodríguez Lastra.
Times best promotion
Natural Reserve Laguna del Diamante is usually operable, depending on the year and snow, from December 15 until March 30. It should always consult the Department of Natural Resources of the Province of Mendoza and / or National Gendarmerie Tunuyan Mza. Difficulty
High mountain. Previous experience in mountain and knowledge of techniques for advancing glaciers. Some expeditions then attempt Aconcagua, often ascending to achieve acclimatization. Introduction
Maipo Volcano, which is border with Chile, and the Laguna del Diamante, are within the Natural Protected Area Laguna del Diamante, Department of San Carlos, Province of Mendoza. This nature reserve of nearly 13,000 ha, is controlled by park rangers must therefore be the registrations for both the input and the output in the area. Actions such as driving on the road or main track, lower waste and not disturb or remove animals flora, which are already in good climbers habit, are controlled by park rangers.
In the Laguna del Diamante, a large natural water reservoir, Diamond River rises then with contributions from other tributaries from nearby peaks, reaches the reservoir Reyunos passes through San Rafael and Monte Coman, Mendoza to the limit.
normal expedition
An expedition, under normal conditions of acclimatization and weather, you can move in 5 days. Starting from the city of Mendoza, in the 747 meters, you arrive on the day the National Gendarmerie sector at the base of the volcano Maipo, S34 ° 11'473 - 42'203 O69 °, 3,312 m. The second day is a party to camp on the 3,800 m. The third to the camp two from the 4.200/4.400 m On the fourth attempt the summit and return to camp 2. The fifth day he returned to Mendoza. Usually left for another day for acclimatization in the area of \u200b\u200bthe lagoon.
Sometimes an issue is characterized as successful or not. With all the nuances that both situations are. But this, for we had to endure the storm and several days to avoid being stranded in the mountains, is characterized by the return. It was the main objective of the expedition.
were 12 hours from 14.30 until after 2 in the morning it takes to travel the 36 miles that separate the Laguna del Diamante Alvarado Post. It was hard work getting the snow that blocked the road with shovels and hand.
Our expedition would not be normal
We had come from Mendoza on 15 February by a group of Catamarca, a Buenos Aires and Mendoza, ready to face the ascent to the volcano Maipo. Upon reaching Pareditas (S33-O69 ° 57.083 ° 04.065, 1097 m) directly face then consolidated Route 40 until you reach the bypass (S34-O69 ° 12.337 ° 07.228; 1,530 m) would lead us to the mountain area. It remains about 25 km. to reach the Refugio Alvarado, (S34-O69 ° 14.742 ° 22.930; 2,300 m) where the group of park rangers who made the annotations into the reserve. After the formalities, including payment of $ 10 for admission and receive an empty bag for trash, per person, which should return full, began a march of almost 36 kilometers. We went through the shelter G. Stone Cross National Yaucha the plains of the Pampa and the Paramillos, reaching the 15-hour checkpoint park rangers near the cylinder, in the vicinity of the lagoon (S34-O69 ° 10.722 ° 39.301, 3383 m.) . Presentations rigor and continued our march along the water surface, to the south where he crossed the bridge over the river Diamond birth, got to the shelter of the National Gendarmerie (S34-O69 ° 11.473 ° 42.203, 3,312 m). Also we stand and ask permission to put up our tent nearby. Base Camp
We put our store large base ready to enjoy all possible comforts, including enjoying a good hot meal, and sleep well padded as we expect a sharp rise the next day. But we do not have the elements. Soon he began to finish the sky and snow covered lot. He did all night, Despite our pleas to cease. And continued over breakfast the next day. Our tent and truck were covered by a thick layer of snow. It was a time and under such conditions was not advisable to address any promotion. By midmorning, while the snowstorm, an unexpected visitor appeared and friendly, Luney, a Guanaquitas that haunted the refuge and whose mother had been hunted by a cougar. Repeatedly entered his head through our door to bite a biscuit or piece of fruit.
After lunch we began a strong wind shook the snow white of our tent and little desire to continue the climb that some of us still hiding. Through the windows could not see any image from a few meters away. When stopped, a layer of nearly forty inches covered the adjacent land. Gendarmerie invited us to spend the night with them and enjoy the fireplace they had. We accept most grateful. It was nice to chat with these dedicated men who care for the country's borders. Snow continued overnight. Return
laborious
the morning of Saturday 17 appeared with some clear blue sky, but with all the western sector of the sky covered by the storm.
would start now our new goal: to return and not be stranded for several days. Break camp, load our equipment on the vehicle and move to the nearby post of the park rangers. It was perhaps time to leave, and although we had a great team, food, fuel and water, a single vehicle was not advisable to try it. The area Paramillos to 3,700 meters should still be much worse for transit, for the snow, so we were on the lookout for news.
few minutes later saw two vehicles, one 4x4 and a box 608, a family of veteran fishermen, also with the idea of \u200b\u200bleaving the area. We set up the caravan and resolutely and past the 14 hours, we started the return. In the first sections patches of snow were long but not very deep. With several thrusts were overcome, leaving a footprint that vehicles could travel further. But then we had to put shovels, taking turns at work and panting with the effort in height, to enable patches that reached almost the underground in some places.
were countless times side by side, put the steel cable forward or backward by any of the vehicles to overcome the difficulty. Also we had to push that got stuck. But there was no turning back. After twelve hours of effort by all members of the group, we arrive well after 2 am, the shelter Alvarado. Just a little before it, the traffic could be considered almost normal. Twelve hours of working relentlessly to make a journey of 36 miles.
But it was worth. Be four or five days trapped in the snow is not pleasant. Effusively and celebrating the feat we salute at parting on leaving the post, but during the return, due to the constant concern to the next difficulty, fatigue and stress suffered, unfortunately forgot to give us the names with the crew of the other two vehicles . And surely one day we will cross to know us better, because the idea is back. LAGUNA
WP Southwest
DIAMOND
Tunuyán height (Mza.) 33 ° 34'308 69 ° 02'092
San Carlos 33 ° 45 ° 170 69 ° 04'418
Pareditas, entry 33 ° 57'083 69 ° 04'065 1,097 m Laguna
Entry w / Route 40 34 ° 12 337 1530 m 69 ° 07'228 Ref
Guard. General Alvarado 34 ° 14'742 69 ° 22 930 2300 m
Stone Cross Ref GN 34 ° 14'865 69 ° 27'867
Refugio 3,071 m GP Cylinder - 34 ° 10'722 69 ° 39'301 GN 3383 m Refuge
Lag. Diamond 34 ° 11'473 69 ° 42'203 3,312 m
Jaime Suárez
0 comments:
Post a Comment