I stumbled across some photos today of an activity we did one weekend in the Cajón del Maipo with our Spanish students. The comments are also from that time (found scrawled in a document hidden in a forgotten file, that also got deleted today along with the (low-quality) photos). Anyway…
LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
The final photo of (almost) everyone just in case the park rangers needed it to find us if we got lost up in the mountains.
Our weekend trip started early one Saturday morning (I bet some of the students wished they hadn’t gone out the night before) with the plan being relatively simple – to spend the weekend in the Mountains of El Cajón del Maipo and basically have a good time. Well, a great time is what we had. The food, the drink, the dancing with a variety of nationalities and cultures was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
We all met in front of the institute, little did we know what adventures lay ahead…
We made a quick pit stop at the main plaza of San José de Maipo. Then we went to Baño Morales for a look around before finding the perfect hidden place right next to a river and quickly set up the tents and got the BBQ under way. Once the food was ready and we had all eaten to excess, some of us went exploring the surrounding area while others just lazied around beside the river.
Those that survived the trek up to the top of this mountain were rewarded by an amazing view of... the main road about 20 metres below!
Those of us that ventured off into the wilderness found another incredible river with lots of little tumbling waterfalls everywhere with small pools underneath to soak in. The water was crystal clear and FREEZING cold. You know, the type of cold where absolutely everything shrivels back into the body. The water was coming down directly from the melted snow in the mountains but it was perfect on such a hot summer’s day! At least the first seconds were before your body went numb and you couldn’t feel a thing.
Due to this, and as stupidity normally prevails, there was a bravery test to see who could stay completely under the little waterfalls for more than a few seconds without turning into an ice cube (the human penguin award goes to…).
They found the end of the rainbow and were rewarded with... being blinded by the light! Bathed in the Universal Light of Awesomeness.
We all had a great time basking on the rocks in the summer heat (we must have been a herd of lizards in another life) and then dipping into the cold pools to refresh ourselves before returning once again to the hot rocks. Mmm, that’s a lovely shade of burnt red.
Once the sun went down the temperatures started to drop. We all then gathered around the bonfire, had another BBQ, and began the dancing (with the appropriate lessons for those that were new to those fluid hip movements – shake it robot, shake it. Shake it robot, shake it). Later in the night most of us lay on the ground looking up at the multitude of constellations and counting the shooting stars. We were probably just too drunk to stay on our feet so the only option when you are flat on your back is to look up at the stars. The night was so clear and many of the foreigners were amazed by the sight of so many stars.
Setting up all the tents was the first priority so that we could begin the fun.
Yes Nick, the Big dipper does look like it’s upside down doesn’t it! Or is it the wrong way in the Northern Hemisphere? 
The next day was spent recovering except for the hardy ones who spent more time cooling off near the waterfalls.
Others (without naming any names Eric from Alaska) even tried to hike the entire Andes all in one day. I bet he wouldn’t have gone off along if he had known about the chupacabra lair nearby. Another BBQ was eventually conjured up for a late lunch and then it was a quick swim before packing everything up.
We all got back to the Institute in Santiago just on sunset of Sunday evening and then went our separate ways… at least until the next day when we all continued with classes again.
Have you ever camped in the Cajón del Maipo?
The legendary river mermaid of the Cajon del Maipo that we encountered... or is it Ange?
Mmmmm... Nothing like a BBQ to start things off. That's tomato and onion getting ready to become a Chilean Salad in front of the grill.
Dusk in the Cajón del Maipo. Very peaceful and the stars... incredible.
Once the sun had disappeared, the dancing began.
Some kids we met on the way home.
Guess how may people were under the water. BEFORE and...
... AFTER
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
How I wish I joined your group guys! I really love camping. I like the picture you took when you found the end of the rainbow. I haven’t seen it yet. How does it look like? Is there any snake at the end of the rainbow? My grandma told me a story that the end of the rainbow is always on the water. It is either in the lake or in the deep well. So is it true? Your camp article was really interesting to read, how much more if I was there too? Gosh I can’t imagine what will I really feel. Thanks for sharing this one to us. Bon voyage for the next camp guys.