The Chilean Ash Cloud

I noticed, amongst the news stories of the ash cloud from the Chilean volcano that is now disrupting air travel in the southern hemisphere, that the Argentine tourist town of Villa Angostura is amongst the most heavily hit... with snowplows trying to move 30 cm of ash that covers everything. The name sounded familiar.

I checked the map... the volcano (Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic complex) is just across the border from San Carlos de Bariloche - where I rode horses at "Cabalgate Carol Jones" and rowed on Lago Nahuel Huapi and from San Martin de los Andes where I rented a car for my trip up to the Volcan Lanin! Check out my photos from March and you'll see the verdant forests and sparkling blue lakes of this region. Then imagine it all buried and clogged by heavy gray volcanic ash.

How transitory the earth's beauty can be...