Anibal and Fernanda have a passion: plan trips thinking about photos. Thus they came from their place in the world, Trelew, to the Iberá Wetlands, in search of alligators. After that trip Patagonia to the north, another followed to the southern reaches behind a ship stranded in Land of Firehe Desdemona. The next objective: to obtain images of a volcano with the drone that he bought two years ago and that accompanies him everywhere. The chosen one was a giant in activity in Neuquén, the Copahue, right on the border with Chile and with a lagoon in the crater. Nothing less. And they went there, towards Caviahue, 360 km from the provincial capital, to go from there to the top.
Heading to the Copahue volcano
To choose a destination like this, there is nothing better than having a geologist cousin, good vibes and a lover of volcanoes. “Copahue, do not doubt it”, Julia Cabrera said when they consulted her and they went there. “She gave us all the information, she motivated us, she was a genius,” says Anibal.
The second thing was to contact a qualified guide: they chose Cristian Naranbuena. When they told him the idea, he proposed the longest and most attractive excursion, the one that allows you to reach the summit and get the amazing panorama that can only be achieved from the top.
The traditional way out is to arrive to the crater where there is a steaming lagoon in this active volcano which is already a marvel, but the summit is something even more amazing.
The guide picked them up for their lodging and they climbed in a 4×4 up to the middle of the route. From there they trekked up at a leisurely pace, at the average pace of the heterogeneous group that included older and younger people.
An ideal march to take photos, as Aníbal likes. Graduated in Psychology, he works at the Rawson Hospital, is a professor at the National University of Chubut and does not boast of his physical condition: “I lack state, but I was able to do it without problems”he says proudly. The phrase contains another idea: you don’t have to be an athlete to reach the top.
While the condors passed by, he and Fernanda were amazed to see so close the flight of the kings of the Andesbut also of the peaks still painted white, the glaciers, the volcanoes on both sides of the mountain range, the deep blue of Lake Caviahue down there smaller and smaller but always bright from the sun as they went up.
At the border landmark with Chile.
«We surrounded the mouth of the volcano, we appeared through a lagoon, we climbed what they call the false summit, We cross the glacier and reach the summit, where the border with Chile is located. That last stretch, the longest, is the least steep.” recounts Hannibal.
From there, the panorama includes the unforgettable postcard of other volcanoes, such as the Lanín and the Tromen.
While describing each step of the journey, Aníbal shares images that he obtained with the camera and with the drone. One of the most striking is that of the lagoon in the crater.
“I was able to make it fly beyond being at the limit of its possibilities due to the wind and the extreme altitude above sea level, which makes it lose support,” he explains. “He flew at 2,900 meters above sea level,” adds Aníbal, still amazed.
-And what does it feel like up there? he asked Voy.
-A different connection. You feel small before so much immensity. We are fascinated. I thought of my cousin who was a mother in those days, encouraging us to go upstairs. I am usually very critical with my photos, but this time I was very satisfied to go up with the drone and through those images being able to share with others the wonder of being there. It was a beautiful thing.
What you need to know to do the trekking
to the crater
* It is a trekking of medium difficulty to the crater (2830 masl) and to the summit (2954 masl).
* Six km round trip
* 600 meters of unevenness.
* Value: 12,000 pesos
At the climb
* 8 hours total movement
* 12 hours of travel
* 750 meters of unevenness.
* Value: 18,000 pesos.
The information comes from the excursion that Aníbal and Fernanda booked with Nortrekk expeditions. Its manager Cristian Norambuena affirms that the service includes two qualified and authorized guides, a cane per person, security and first aid equipment, insurance per person and door-to-door service. The activity is done with a minimum of four people.
«I remark about licensed and licensed guides since there are guides that offer the excursions without complying with these conditions. I’ve been reporting it for a long time. There needs to be more controls“he points out.
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