In the News
Logan and I spent two weeks working our way down to the most southern towns of the continent before returning to the town of Puerto Montt for one last evening. After having a picnic by the bay we started to head back towards our hostel to relax before our full day of travel the following morning. As we were walking, I noticed several people with their phones out snapping pictures of something. I ran out in the street so the neighboring building could no longer obstruct my view to see a plume of ash and smoke heading skyward. I yelled back to Logan, “Logan, the volcano is erupting!” We sprinted to the end of the street and watched in awe for over an hour.
As the sun sank closer to the horizon, the ominous plume was illuminated with an orange-red glow as lightning danced along the edges of the eruption. After dark, a constant flickering of lightning was visible as the orange glow of the plume was no longer from the sunset, but now coming from within the conical volcano itself.
Coming from the Midwest, I have never been exposed to a volcano drill. We questioned if we were in immediate danger or not, and decided to just follow the locals. They didn’t seem to be too concerned, so we tried not to be either. It was a strange feeling as the mushroom top of the plume spread directly over us. The following morning, the town of Puerto Montt seemed to be running as usual with a few exceptions. Schools were canceled for the day as well as flights from the airport, including mine. As the winds blew through town today, clouds of smog and ash smothered parts of the city, but most people could be seen going about their daily routines.
After two incredible weeks in Chile, I knew we would go out with a bang, I just never expected that bang to be the 6,500 foot tall Calbuco Volcano awaking for the first time since 1972. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever witnessed and I feel so lucky to have observed such an immense natural event first hand.
Following the mess of canceled flights out of Puerto Montt for two days, I was finally able to get a flight to Urugauy. Just as my plane breached the cloud cover, I could see Calbuco still smoldering in the distance casting it’s rain of ash across the horizon. Growing up, you learn about volcanos in class. It was quite a treat to finally see one in person, and incredibly lucky to see one at its most impressive moments. I will never forger that day in Puerto Montt when I witnessed the power an ferocity of a volcano first hand.
