Volcano Osorno Climb

A beautiful cone Volcano with a flat circular summit. A more technical climb due to the glaciated summit.

At a glance

Duration:	1 day - 10 km's ?/ 1900m ascent
Volcano Height:	2652m
Access:	NO public buses - Hire a car or taxi: gravel road
Grade:	Very hard due to 1900m of ascent & glacier
Notes:	Experience with Ice Axe, crampons & roped glacial travel.

Getting there

On the east side of Lake Llanquihue accessible from the town of Osorno to the North or Puerto Montt to the East. There is one main ascent route, about 2km's to the north of Ensenada there is a paved road that goes to the Teski Ski Club. On the North side of the Volcano is another lesser used route starting from Refugio La Picada, it is signed 'La Picada' from the turn Puerto Clocker, 18 k's on well maintained gravel roads.

Accommodation

Zapato Amarillo in Puerto Octay offers doubles and dorm beds in grassed roof chalets. Take the 'Via Puerto Octay' service from Osorno bus station, every 30 mins costs CL$ 1300. From Puerto Montt the 'Thaebus' company leaves the bus terminal about every 2 hours for Puerto Octay.

Maps

LLanquihue Travel & Trekking Map (2010) 1:150,000 shows the access but not mark the route over the glacier.
This Aoneker map shows the complete acsent from both directions. The JLM Trekking Maps No.15 also shows the route but is a poorer Topographical map.

The Route

Main route: from the Teski Ski Club the ascend by the ski lift then onto the crevassed glacier - you will need a rope and know how to safely travel over a crevassed glacier. The sign outside the CONAF building say you must use the services of a Guide. The last section includes a 60 deg pitch on snow/ice.

From the North: The small road from Puerto Clocker first heads West then south west towards the base of the Volcano along a well kept gravel road. Go as far as the Refugio La Picada where you can park. You can then continue on foot up a gravel trail, it opens out and you will see up to the refuge. This is the deserted Curas refuge; start climbing from here. You can see the trail heading over the brown volcanic scree. The route become more rocky before you need to head onto the glacier for a 45-50 deg ascent to the flat topped summit. Return by the same route. Seek advise on the route before heading out.