The Hidden Treasures of Cordón del Caulle
You don’t need to travel to Yellowstone National Park in the United States to find natural landscapes that have geysers, thermal rivers, active volcanoes and sulfurs, and at the same a fantastic playground for activities like skiing and trekking.
Cordón del Caulle, located toward the interior of the mountain range of Chile’s Los Rios region, is home to that kind of diverse landscape. It’s also pristine and practically untouched by man, a place where to find some way of entering is a challenge in and of itself.
In order to show the immense value of Cordón del Caulle, and emphasizing open and responsible access to the
area, the non-profit Entre Lengas held events in 2017 and 2018 on the north face of this mountain chain, which by its south face also allows one to reach the summit of the nearby Puyehue volcano.
Recently, with a group of friends, we went there to enjoy a starry night. This is a place which always seems to make you want to stay longer, either to leisure calmly in the natural hot springs or explore the intriguing surroundings. And how can one forget Lagunas Gemelas and Lake Gris, while it is not known for sure if they are inside Puyehue National Park (its northern border is unclear), their imposing rock walls are the dream of any mountaineer.
Upon reflection, we wonder if society is even prepared to
“It’s practically untouched by man… a place where to find some way of entering is a challenge in and of itself.”
“take charge” of a place like this. That might sound severe but look what’s happening with our environment. The low budget that the Chilean government invests per hectare in protected wilderness areas – as well as the general lack of a culture of respect and care for our environment prevalent in society –
makes us question, with great sadness, whether conservation is yet a priority in this country.
Meantime, we will continue to explore the iconic Cordón del Caulle, which over the last few years has suffered with problems related to access. In 2017, the municipality of Lago Ranco acquired 400 hectares ( 988 acres) to open up new public access to Puyehue National Park via the Caulle sector. Their master plan calls for a pioneering geopark in southern Chile, but for now access is only available via existing park entrances in the Los Lagos region.
These types of inconveniences are what Fundación Plantae is trying to address by developing a National Mountain Access Restrictions Survey, with the aim of showing the present situation in mountains and other natural environments to decision-makers, landowners, administrators and visitors. It is expected to be published in early 2020, shedding light on a subject that up to now has been stuck in the dark.