Central Andes
The Andes & Central Valley
The Andes Mountains rise to the east with peaks over 6,600m. The
landscape is semi-arid in the foothills, with permanently snow-capped
mountains. This sector's small population works in the mines, the
hydroelectric power plants or looking after animals. Nevertheless,
in the Maipo river valley there are beautiful and picturesque villages
and it has become one of the main destinations for the people of
Santiago and tourists who wish to live side by side with nature.
Beyond the first row of hills of the Andes there are beautiful forests,
canyons, glaciers, lakes and white water rivers. Several roads lead
to national parks, protected areas and places where the most varied
open-air activities take place, from walks, horseback riding and
trekking, to mountain biking or rafting.
Chile's popular culture derives more from the Central Valley than
from the Andes, the elevation and relative inaccessibility of which
complicates inhabitation - or even passage. The rare moments in which
the range appears in Chile's history are among the country's greatest,
such as when José de San Martin Liberation Army crossed the
range from Argentina to defeat the Spanish in the name of independence,
in 1817.
Geology
The greater part of the Central Andes is composed of crumbling
volcanic depositions, and continued subsurface activity results
in the presence
of no fewer than 35 documented hotsprings, including Colina
and Cauquenes hotsprings. Tectonic uplift is another important factor
in local geography, and marine fossils are often found on Andean
peaks exceeding 5000m.
Flora and Fauna
While the Central Valley has been modified from
its natural state into a patchwork of irrigated agricultural lands,
the Central
Andes have retained their native flora and fauna. Cactus and other
drought-
resistant species thrive on sunny, north-facing slopes, while
river bottoms and shaded slopes provide habitat for drought- resistant
trees similar to the California chaparral. Above a certain
elevation, trees and shrubs disappear altogether, though in November
and
December,
the high Andean valleys of El Morado National Park and the
Yerba Loca Nature Sanctuary fill with blooming wildflowers. The remoteness
of the high Andes protects habitat for Andean condors, torrent
ducks, foxes and pumas.
Helisking
In the Chilean Central Andes between latitude 32 degrees and 34
degrees South we have access to thousands of acres of unlimited terrain.
Such terrain includes the Aconcagua and Juncal Valleys to the North
and the Olivares,
Parraguirre, and Tupungato Valleys to the South. These are both areas
with a variety of endless terrain from glaciated Andean peaks to
steep ridges and gullies with elevations between 4,500 meters (14,850’)
and 3,000 meters (9,900’), making a combination of some of
the world’s most exciting heli skiing terrain imaginable, surrounded
by 21,000’ peaks.
We have the privilege of dry continental snow pack at high altitude,
synonymous with champagne powder at its best. Snow accumulation comes
from the Pacific Ocean a mere 100 miles west of the Andes. Flying
conditions are best during winter due to thermal reduction to almost
zero, a serious summer problem due to heat and cumulus build-up in
early afternoon.
Also just over an hour's drive from the capital, three well-equipped
ski areas high in the Andes serve as summer training ground for all
european and american national ski teams, and provide groomed and
off-piste skiing for all ages and
abilities. Further south, the Chillán hotspring combines world-
class skiing on the slopes of an active volcano with one of the country's
premier hotspring resorts.
Mountaineering
The Central Andes concentrate dozens of 5,000m peaks and several which top 6000m,
all within a day or two of Santiago. At 5,424rn, Cerro El Plomo is often climbed
as an acclimatization peak for 7,021 m Cerro Aconcaqua, the highest peak in
the Americas.
El Plomo 5.425mt
San Jose Volcano 5.856mt
Marmolejo 6.108mt
Tupungato Volcano 6.570mt
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