The Altiplano and well above it! Trip recap from Chile.

[thewheelerZ]

Just got back from a long weekend adventure. About a 5.5 hour drive from our home in Iquique, we drove to the National Park Lauca in Northern Chile. Thought I would share a short recap and a few pictures for the Delica lovers in Canada. There is a a different type of beauty in the Chilean Altiplano and above. But fantastic non the less. I am always amazed that animals are able to survive up there. The park was relatively lush with vegetation. The town of Putre has a decent stream running through it, making a lush green strip about 100m across. Stark contrast to the brown everywhere else. But gorgeous with a 6000m peak towering above town. Between the coast and the park is desert. I wonder when the last time some of those places got rain (ever?, sure doesnt look it).

The biggest feat for our Delica was its first time at some real altitude! The park starts at 4300 m, and the roads go to around 4500m. The lake (chungara) is in the top 20 of highest lakes in the world. Some of the peaks of the volcanoes are around 6200-6300m. We didnt make it that far. A bout of altitude sickness sent us back where we came from (down to the lowly Putre, 3500m) on the 2nd day after a hike into the interior a bit. Too high too fast I guess! The Delica managed better then we did almost. Besides quite a bit of black smoke, and difficulty starting when cold in the morning (needed to bump it, fortunately we were parked on a decent hill!) it was great. Power was still decent too.

Altimeter was accurate to about 3500m (the town of Putre), but I think once it rolled over, we never saw the 4500m the lake is supposed to be at.

I saw a few other posts with mention of "how high has your Delica been". It isnt quite fair, as we have paved roads to what seems like the top of the world, but I will wait patiently for a higher altimeter reading!

Here are a few pictures of the trip.

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Lush Valley in Putre

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Smaller lakes with towreing volcanoe above.

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Local Fauna

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More local fauna

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Park entrance

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Campsite

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Sea Level... nope!

[konadog]

Nice! Thanks for posting about your adventure! Great pics :)

[mycale]

WOW love the pics! looks fantastic up there! thanks for the post!

[delicat]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh Chili, one of my favorite! Didn't think I'd hear about a Delica from Iquique! Thanks for the pictures, they bring me back almost 20yrs ago when I traveled for 6 months with my backpack from Bogota to Punta Arenas and back! Spent a good chunk of time in Arica and Iquique... dryest desert in the world!

Good for you and thanks again for sharing!
David

[Jaz]

Echoing the above sentiments - thanks for sharing!

Lets us know that there are other places out there to visit... Chile has always been high on my list.

[Erebus]

Altimeter was accurate to about 3500m (the town of Putre), but I think once it rolled over, we never saw the 4500m the lake is supposed to be at.

Sea Level... nope!

Well, the altimeter's scale only goes to 4000m, in your photo it looks like it is showing 4100 (or 100).

Wonder shots, thanks for sharing them. Yet another place to add to my list of places I want to visit.

By the way, might I suggest you revise your profile to indicate where you live? I like knowing that, and helps us all avoid giving stupid advice like "go to Canadian Tire".

[fexlboi]

Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to be there one day