Hey Folks,

I’m sure you’ve heard of the volcano eruption in Chile this last week – down at Chaiten, a massive eruption has devastated the towns of Chaiten and nearby Futaleufu – ash up to 12 inches deep covers much of Futaleufu. Geologists say the volcano hasn’t erupted in nearly 10 000 years.

The volcano is still erupting, a week after the initial explosion, and wind is carrying the ash and dust east and over the town of Futaleufu. The poor little coastal town of Chaiten has been totally rocked, and Futaleufu is hurting – so far all but a few people have left town. A National Geographic vulcanologist has said this particular type or eruption is the worst kind, and could easily continue for months.

I have fond memories of my time in Futaleufu, and am sorry to hear of the hardship those good people presently endure. At present, the people are in need of some assistance – food and water are being chartered in, and some help is needed. If you have the time and some spare change, a donation would be greatly appreciated. You can go to this page set up by H2O Patagonia (a whitewater rafting company) and make a donation – that would be awesome.

I spent 4 months here, Dec 2006-April 2007, and I can’t speak highly enough of the people there – wonderful, friendly, beautiful people. My friend Mitch, from H2O, is a great guy and definitely someone who will ensure any donation you can make will be put to good use, and not wasted. Please help out some wonderful people in their time of need, and give a little. And when all this settles down, head on down and see some of the most people and landscape you’ll ever see, in Central Patagonia, around Futaleufu.

This photo is of a mountain called Las Tres Monjas, which translates in English as ‘The Three Nuns’ – a classic peak, catching the last ray’s of the day. The river here is the Rio Azul, which joins the Futaleufu about a mile downstream from where I took this photo.

Cheers

Carl