 Poster: A snowHead
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Chile evacuated all the occupants of a southern ski area, as Llaima volcano spewed lava for a second day. The volcano is one of South America's most active, and locals are worried that the eruption could cause snow on the volcano to melt, resulting in torrents of water and even landslides. The lava flow stretches about 2k down the slopes of volcano and, yesterday, the Chilean government ordered a 15k exclusion zone around it....
This comes after the Chaiten volcano, 760 miles (1,220 km) south of Santiago in Chilean Patagonia, started erupting on May 2 for the first time in thousands of years, spewing ash, gas and molten rock. The nearby town of Chaiten has been caked in volcanic ash and the volcano continues to emit hot gas and ash.
Source: http://in.reuters.com:80/article/worldNews/idINIndia-34343020080702 and http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSN01255963._CH_.2400
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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rob@rar, oops! 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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eng_ch, it is classed as one of their 'Adventure Trips'  I'd be happy to forgo a couple of days skiing if I could see something like this instead.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Llaima volcano was on the itinerary when I went to Chile with Snoworks last August, however when we arrrived at the foot of the mountain, our vehicles could not get all the way up to the lodge where we were due to stay and so we had to turn back and move on.
I think Llaima also erupted in January this year however from what I understand these eruptions are not as potentially dangerous as they might seem. I was told that volcanos of the type found in Chile, usually give warning that something is going to happen with increased activity beforehand. When the eruption does occcur, the whole top of the mountain does not blow off St. Helena style and the eruption just results in lava streams pouring down the mountain. Having said that you would not want to be near the top when it happened and as the news pointed out the resulting snowmelt can give problems but at least there appears to be some reasonable element of predictability. There were some dramatic night time shots of the January eruption on Youtube which are probably still there.
I must confess to being a little selfishly disappointed when I heard that Llaima had erupted in January, because not having had the chance to ski it last year, I could not stand in the pub and have bragging rights that I had skied recently on a volcano that had just ereupted. We did however go on and ski on Villarica volcano which last erupted some twenty years ago although when the Snoworks group got to the top in 2006 hot ash started coming out of the top.
Perhaps I will stick to Europe.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| eng_ch, it is classed as one of their 'Adventure Trips' I'd be happy to forgo a couple of days skiing if I could see something like this instead. |
Not sure I'm that adventurous, if I saw sth like that within striking distance I'd be running away fast! Impressive pic though
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money back on the lift pass ?
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| eng_ch wrote: |
| rob@rar wrote: |
| eng_ch, it is classed as one of their 'Adventure Trips' I'd be happy to forgo a couple of days skiing if I could see something like this instead. |
Not sure I'm that adventurous, if I saw sth like that within striking distance I'd be running away fast! Impressive pic though |
No, I'm sure you would be thrilled rather than scared if you saw an eruption. It really is nature at its best; even better that something like the Matterhorn! Here's one of my favourite photos.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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rob@rar, don't underestimate my yellow streak! And I have a thing about volcanos and lava - stuff of my childhood nightmares
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| eng_ch wrote: |
| And I have a thing about volcanos and lava - stuff of my childhood nightmares |
Really? I love it! I once got stuck in the middle of a lava field and had to spend the night there until I was lifted out by helicopter the following morning - no nightmares, just awe inspiring (although I confess I didn't get much sleep). Some photos (here and here) just for you 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rob@rar, 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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rob@rar, urgh, those made me go all cold and shivery
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You know it makes sense.
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Courtesy of the Telegraph and Reuters, I have to share this pic . . . stunning!
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