Chile Forum

The village of Palena is 30 miles S of Futaleufu (straight line per google earth). Nearly on the Argentine border. Rio Palena Comes in from Arg. at Palena. (Its called Corcovado there.) La Junta is 60 miles to the south south west of Futaleufu. Do you still think Palena far enough south not to be affected?

Hey, here is what is going on here in the Futa area that I see. Greg
and I went out yesterday to the Azul area. The Rio Espolon looks a
little clearer, but still a little milky. Lago Lanconoa is really
milky looking. The Azul looks awesomely clear! Ash fall out there is
minimal, no more than a light dusting.

Back towards Futa, just a couple of k's outside of town, cattle are
being corralled and feed is delivered. Back in town I was passing out
dog food and was joined by THE head of the Carabineros who told me
they were providing food for the domestic animals (and probably
thought I was a little nuts cooing the dogs out for a bite of Pedagree
on the street corner).

The geese were happy to see me, but they are greedy little freaks
anyway, so I don't know if they are really hungry or not. The
neighbor is not back so the remaining chickens were happy for feed
and water, so much that two escaped and I had to enlist Greg for a
rescue.

Something must have happened in the night because we had another good
dusting. So either an eruption, or wind. We have a mist right now
which is good for keeping the dust down.

I always say I will upload, and then never quite get to it. I will
try it now.

The water provided tastes like hell. Like water from a garden hose
that has laid in the hot sun for three months. I'm avoiding doing
laundry for fear of ruining my new washing machine. Water pressure
for the purpose of showering and toilet is minimal. But, as I said,
random acts of humor, compassion and determination are rampant. A box
of cheap wine, or a six pack doesn't hurt either!

Vicki

This morning: another very small dusting of ash. Water trucks have filled free-standing tanks in several locations around town - much better tasting than the plastic bladder laying in the plaza.

Vickie,

Thanks you for your accounts of the Chaiten Volcano eruption disasters in Futa. I read all of it; and I hold the folks of Futa in my prayers. My travels to Futa in Jan.'08 were for recreation, kayak & horse-riding w/ExChile. Prior to that, kayaked in '91. I hope the valley will rebound quickly, although the news does paint a bleak picture. The fish habitat may be effected long-term w/ potential acid-runoff from the ash. I am glad the Chilean President visited Futa. Hope she returns and continues to see what life is like in Patagonia. Continue to where masks, clean your oil & air filters in auto is driving them (St. Helens killed my VW). Your words give me hope for the Futaluefu Valley. Maybe an active volcano will deter the dams & mining activity. Hope Endures. Jill Tip.
CO, USA

Ed & all:
oh yes. And Chaiten, Futaleufu and the region will recover from this volcanic event. It is a geologic process, duh, and nature at work.
may all those find ways to be at peace. prayers with you. jt

Update:

Excellent, excellent rains right now. I'm sure they will create runoff of ash into the rivers and streams, but it's got to start sometimes I suppose. Ever hear a glob of wet clay hit the ground? That's what it sounds like off the roof tonight!

The Carabineros made rounds many times today, checking in on those who chose not to leave, passing out fresh masks, updating us on water supply sites and asking how we were doing, if we needed anything.

I stopped to distribute chicken feed a block or so up from our rental. The neighbor showed me a little cabin where the owners had fled and left behind a mixed flock of ducks that she wasn't able to supply food for. That seems to be a situation that will be repeated all over this area. So, that done, we had a little mate and chatted, her in Chilean, me in English. Women always find a way to communicate.

Max, the dog, is absolutely out of his mind at this point. But I suppose he always was. Aside from leash walks outside, his world is a 12 x 12 living room to romp in. He is horribly aggressive with other dogs, and forget about cats. I'll be forever paying penance to Carmen and Rosa across the street for the unfortunate and violent death of one of their cats on Christmas Eve.

Wild boar hunting is going on up behind the rental house here in Futa. I assume it is something that usually occurs during deep winter, but the boar are coming down now because of the ash fall. As appalling to some as it might be, it is just part of what they do here. And, you might be interested to know [DISCLAIMER: DON'T READ ON IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY HUNTING]


...for the most part, they don't hunt for wild boar with guns here. They hunt with dogs who track and corner the beast, wear it out, and the hunter jumps on it's back and stabs it in the ribs. Also, at El Barranco, where they display a monster mount of a wild boar taken three years ago, they tell me that they take a blood sample and have it run at the hospital to check for disease before they have an asado. I don't know if that is true, but it makes me feel better.

Oh shit! I left the chicken feed bag in the back of the truck. Corn mush now.

A fine clay slip was oozing under the back door of our rental, cabin- I have it stopped now, but the rain keeps coming. I wonder how many homes are empty on the slopes here in Futa and will have that to deal with when they return. Tomorrow we will set out about Futa and Sector Azul, and camera will ( it is now clogged and groggy) I will take some more pictures of the rivers and area.

Thought" Are there any uses for volcanic ash?

Vicki

Photo of Wild Boar Mount at El Barranco in Futa.

http://www.allchile.net/chilephotos/thu ... 07&page=11

admin wrote:There is one thing I want to say that is obvious to us that live in Chile.

THE VOLCANO DID NOT DESTROY ALL OF CHILE!!!!!

Many are going to wonder why I am stating the obvious. Well over the last week I have received dozens of emails and even phone calls from people all over the world that had plans to travel to Chile even just as a tourist this year that some how got the impression from the international media that Chile has been wiped out end to end. It just is not the case in any way.

Good point Charles. This would be a bit like saying I won't travel to Florida this year because the mid-west was devastated by tornados. While it would be wise not to plan a glacier trek in Region x this time of the year, it's not season anyway. Hopefully, the season will play out and things will settle, and it's a "let's see" situation.

That said, I'd really like to hear from Nick La Penna, the best all around tour-guide operator from Chaiten. I heard he left with his fellow Chaitenians but haven't heard anything since. Nick? You out there? Let's talk!

Vicki

New clip from Futa on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Se6J03J1c&feature=user

If I may, a recent article on the Patagonia News website: I have comments below.......

The protests come as members of the opposition Independent Democratic Union (UDI) described the government's response to the tragedy as “insufficient.” They also criticized what they perceive as the lack of government effort to finish the Carretera Austral (Southern Highway), a rural roadway that, if constructed, would connect the towns near the eruption with the Region X city of Puerto Montt.

“All we hear about today is the ecological and environmental disaster and how the people and the animals are suffering,” said UDI Sen. Jaime Orpis. “Chile has not showed the political will power to address this issue.”

“According to Public Works Ministry data, the government plans to construct only 5 kilometers of this road, leaving 60 kilometers left to build,” said Orpis. “Given the tragedy that the people of Chaitén are facing, we need to prioritize infrastructure, but not just 5 kilometers of it. I think the Public Works Ministry's response has been insufficient.”

Former Public Works (MOP) Minister Eduardo Bitrán proposed that the Carretera Austral be built through the middle of Pumalín Park, the nature reserve created by U.S. philanthropist Douglas Tompkins. The Chaitén Volcano happens to lie within the park’s boundaries. Tompkins, who proposed an alternative coastal route for the road, has been fighting the proposal ever since (ST, April 28).

According to Sen. Orpis, Tompkins has “superimposed the interests of the environment over the interests of the people.”

More than 12,000 civilians, including a few dozen residents holed up in Chaitén and Santa Barbara, have been evacuated since the volcano eruption began. The Agriculture Ministry had also initiated plans to rescue most of the 40,000 cows, sheep, and other livestock in nearby towns.

The Region X Governor's Office, however, issued a decree preventing animal rights organizations from traveling to Chaitén to rescue the estimated 600 pets – mostly horses, dogs and cats – abandoned there. As of Sunday, local animal activists said they were preparing legal arguments to have the decision overturned (ST, May 12).

By Matt Malinowski (editorATsantiagotimes.cl)

A disclaimer from Vicki: I do not have a comprehensive grasp of Spanish, I am not a citizen of Chile, while it is my home and I have my RUN, RUT, and it is the only home I have. I do not speak for anyone but myself, and these are my observations solely.

First: The Austral Highway. Using the non-completion of the Austral Highway through Pumalin Park is political posturing. Had the road been already completed it would have made as much sense as a "gas-tax holdiay" in the US. Ridiculous! As I've said before, I haven't formed an opinion of the road yet, but I can surmise that had the road been built, the number of people and businesses affected would have been far greater, and the evacuations much more difficult. It is absolutely ridiculous for this to even be a discussion at this point in time.

Other issues in the article address the inability of the government to address water and supplemental animal feed. I have to tell you that I take great issue with most reporting now days. The cut and paste of major news networks, the failure to verify information is disgusting! Read one article, read them all. The Patagonia Times seems to have avoided this trap for the most part, however..... As for Futa....Water, while not running efficiently in the taps, is available in great quantities. Hay, supplemental animal feed is available. Electric is on, internet is on, trucks with food, and supplies are making their way here from Palena, and Argentina. Yes, supplemental animal feed needs to continue to come, and in greater bulk. The difficulty it seems is that if you aren't sensational in your reporting, you don't get the ratings, or "hits". Or the funds for relief. If you say, we are ok, then people don't respond. While Futa is doing ok, it is not okay.

Yes, things are inconvenient. The ash is a pain in the ass. But for the most part, I'd rather be here than anywhere else in a disaster. The locals may have other opinions, and I defer to them. Beware news that is nothing more than blocking and copying one uninformed report as fact. My family in the US was absolutely frantic that we we history as in Pompei! Things are not well here by a long shot, but Futa is alive, and if for no other reason than the incredible and indestructible will of the people of this area of Chle, it will be here, thriving for a long, long time.

Vicki