Approach from Copiapo to Laguna Verde area near Paso San Francisco
One of the few stretches with a little bit of green in an otherwise extremely barren desert landscape
No more green here - but lots of gray and brown colors.
The road climbs nearly 4000m from Copiapo over a distance of more than 150km
First pass over 4500m before dropping down to 3700m at the Chilean border control station
Rock formation near Laguna Verde
A small herd of Vicunas; these were the only animals we saw in this part of the desert (not even birds). I am astonished how these creatures can survive on so little vegetation.
The Laguna Verde at 4500m
Laguna Verde
Camp at Laguna Verde, run by Aventurismo; for $160 one has access to all facilities here and up on the mountain (Ojos)
We pitched our tent inside the large dome tent for dust control (and to a lesser extent mosquitoe control)
One of the hot springs at Laguna Verde
Antoine dared dipping his toes and fingers into the hot water!
This scene belies the generally very harsh environment: Afternoon windy, at night cold, during day extreme sun and UV. Not exactly a place for the bathing suit...
Lowest of the Refugios on Ojos at 4500m. We could drive up to this place with our rental car. Then we switched to the 4-wheel drive pickup.
En route to Camp 1 at 5200m with the 4-wheel drive. Hiking would have been better for acclimatization, but it's 20+ km and pure desert!
Camp 1 (Refugio Atacama) at 5200m. Ojos summit on the left.
Large dome tents for cooking and eating, small tents (and the container) for sleeping.
We slept in the container; tight quarters, but out of the wind. We left the door open, though, as we felt claustrophobic and hypoxic with the door closed.
Slow going up above Refugio Atacama towards Refugio Tejos. Altitude ~ 5300m. Weight on the back ~20kg (due to 7l water). Vertical gain a paltry ~ 120m / hr. That's an average of only 2m / min, unbelievably slow! (Photo courtesy of Antoine Labranche)
Refugio Tejos (Camp 2) at 5830m around sun-down. Despite the altitude there is very little snow. One has to bring all drinking water from below.
My second highest night (5830m) was not very pleasant; there is no life in this environment.
Looking for the other Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity...
Inside Refugio Tejos - simple, but out of the wind!
Staying hydrated and well-fed is a challenge here. I mostly drank, but had no appetite for things bigger than cookies.
Sunrise above Refugio Tejos with view of the Ojos summit.
View North-West from about 6000m at sunrise.
My high point on summit day (18-Mar-10) around 6000m. Weather was great, little wind, but I felt very tired and couldn't go any higher.
View back down to the Refugio Tejos (5830m) and towards Laguna Verde in the distance.
Getting back to Refugio Tejos early in the morning after the aborted summit attempt.
View from 6400m (Photo courtesy of Antoine Labranche)
View from 6400m with Laguna Verde (Photo courtesy of Antoine Labranche)
Pickup by 4WD at Refugio Tejos, 5830m.
Getting stuck in the snow during drive down at 5800m.
View during the drive down.
Above Refugio Atacama (5200m) on the drive down.
At Refugio Atacama, 5200m.
Drive back to Copiapo, near Chilean border control station.
Driving over a 4500m high pass on the way back to Copiapo. From here the road descends some 4000m over the next 150km.
