Our Great Adventure: Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales Day 205 11/04/2015

The forecast for today was for clear skies with sunshine so we'd decided to get the local bus to Petrohue in the Vicente Perez Posales National Park and walk up along the high plateau of Volcano Osorno. When we woke the lake was shrouded in mist but we were undeterred and continued with our plans. After a very enjoyable breakfast we walked to the town centre to buy provisions and catch the bus. We were better prepared today and had checked the bus times, only having to wait for a short while. The bus runs along the lakeshore, not that we could see anything, to Ensenada and continues on to Petrohue. As we got closer to Ensenada the mist started to clear and we got views of the snow capped volcano and surrounding peaks. The last 6km of the road to Petrohue, on the shore of Lago Todas los Santos, is unsealed and is crossed by a number of lava flows. We registered at the National Park office before setting off to walk to Refugio La Picada along the Pasa Desolacion. The walk heads through forest along the lake shore crossing a number of lava flows before heading up to Los Alerces and on to Mirador La Picada. The views of Volcan Osorno were spectacular along with the other nearby volcanos, Calbuco, Puntiagudo and across the lake to Tronador close to the Argentinian boarder. The skies were clear and despite the chilly air the heat of the sun was quite intense. Past the mirador the landscape becomes very desolate walking along volcanic terrain with very little flora or fauna other than lizards and grasshoppers. We did spot two birds although not sure what they were, perhaps some type of ibis. The panorama of the volcanos and lake was superb. Nearby at the refugio we stopped for a short lunch break before heading back to Petrohue. The last bus was at 6pm and we certainly didn't want to miss it. We arrived back with plenty of time to spare, signed out at the National Park office and enjoyed an ice cream chilling out by the lake shore before getting the bus back to Puerto Varas. There were a number of locals on the bus who appeared to have been out picking berries and nuts. The lady sat opposite us offered us what we think were almonds to try. It took a bit of effort to crack open the shell and whilst some did definitely taste like almonds others were very bitter. We smiled and thanked her all the same! In the evening we went to a nearby steak house for dinner and had each a free pisco sour (the first we've had since we've arrived in South America) a lovely meal and fine bottle of chilean wine to celebrate a fantastic day out in the mountains.