Chile -PMacD

[ichristie]

Hi again, just thought to post the other Chloraea magellanica and the hybrid with Chloraea alpina, I look forward to seeing the other pictures which I am sure will come from Phillip/  cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Tony Willis]

There is an interesting web site for Chilean orchids which see as mixed up as the European ones. They have been swapped between the different genera nearly as often. looking at the variations within a species I will leave it to a better man than me to give the defnitive identification.

www.chlorischile.cl/weborchis/tabla11.htm

I have decided that one I saw was Chloraea lamellata

[johnw]

More on the Chile expedition, now over. A letter from M.


Hi John
I mailed this letter to all my close friends & family but I must have written
down the wrong address for you and it came back. I hope this works now. I am in
Jo'burg, SA now and soon to Ethiopia. Write back.

Cheers,
Maria
P.S. I miss P already!





Most of you have heard from me in the past almost 4 weeks, time sure goes by
fast, and as I am coming to the end of my South American trek I just want to
fill you in what has been going on. Since my two companions joined me 3 weeks
ago we have, it seems climped enough mountainsides near snow-capped, active or
non-active
volcanoes up & down the Chilean cordilleras then I want to remember. Each climb
seemed harder then the next but the last two hikes-win the
price. Hiked for more than 6 hours most on a
sheer vertical at temperatures of 32C even at high altitutes at same time
nursing a head cold. We were totally
fried, covered with a thick layer of red dust & sweat.
I thought that this part of my trip would be a breeze but I had never traveled
before with my friend P,well once before but it did not entail hikes.A
plant enthusiast par excellence, he would go to
any
lengths or hights for that matter to view a specific plant. As I and the other
older companion struggled
to keep up with him he kept going higher and higher leaving his dusty trail
for us to inhale!

But it was worth every effort having to deal with these arduous hikes and
scorching temps. We walked and drove through immense lava flows, drove through a
desert to reach a relic cloud forest, hiked through a rainforest with majestic
and unique old growth trees to reach a glacier.

One hasn't lived until one experiences the comical process of border crossing
between Chile and Argentina and back again where we had to be processed 3-4
times from both sides at each crossing before we could leave. When crossing
back into Chile we were horrified to witness how thoroughly the Chilean guards
were checking all cars. In out panic we threw away all the seeds we had
collected to find out as our turn came up that we were previleged as gringos
and were ushered through with just a brief viewing of our filthy car!!

As far as accommodations we went from simple to shabby rooms with often broken
toilets, to spacious dorms all to ourselves in closed up ski centres but with
no toilet paper or hot water. Eventually I set up some rules that I will only
stay where i could get my own room with my own toilet, I had my fill of being
one of the guys.

We have been buying lots of good fruit & veg from roadside stands and have been
gorging on all of these wonderful produce including fresh cheese. Most meals at
restaurants are so-so but the good ones are memorable.

It has been an exciting and memorable adventure this part of my winter venture.
We have been witness to incredible vistas, met interesting people and last but
not least seen beautiful and unusual plants.

We have had some minor setbacks such as my bad cold, getting a flat tire, my
laptop giving up on me and last and most memorable of all our car giving up on
us last night up one hour's drive in a ski centre. We got set up to sleep in
the car but were saved by a local who took pity on us and drove us down. Just as
well because tomorrow I will say good bye to Chile and my friends and head off
to Johannesburg for a well deserved few days rest and start again for another
adventure to Ethiopia which I think after Chile will be a
piece of cake.
Until next time.
Love and good wishes to all,

M

Active volcano Valdivia Galletti
 Monkey Puzzle Tree in Volcan Llaima - Galletti
 More monkey Puzzle trees! Galletti
 Viola cotyledon Galletti.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great story - stunning Pix !!! 
What a gorgious Viola !!!!
Thanks for sharing !

[Gerdk]

There is an interesting web site for Chilean orchids which see as mixed up as the European ones. They have been swapped between the different genus nearly as often. looking at the variations within a speceies I will leave it to a better man than me to give the defnitive identification.
www.chlorischile.cl/weborchis/tabla11.htm
I have decided that one I saw was Chloraea lamellata

Interesting to learn that there is an orchid with the German dialect name for shit - Aa nervosa. The plant doesn't look fine also.

Gerd

[Gerdk]

Great story - stunning Pix !!! 
What a gorgious Viola !!!!
Thanks for sharing !

From me the same - looking forward to the mountains of East Africa!

Gerd

[ichristie]

Thank you for posting your write up, the trip must have been magic what a team, looking forward to more pictures, cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[johnw]

Well I got a surprise this afternoon when another letter arrived from P who is still at it in Chile.  I may get some pix tonight.

"John  - Home tomorrow. Chilean diet consisits mainly of white starch, french fries and Cola, wont miss it a bit. Was up to La Parva yesterday, hiked to 3800 M, worth tolerating 3 weeks of bad food. Will call you on my return."

p



johnw

[Hans A.]

Thanks all for this wonderful thread! I wish I could buy a ticket and pack my backpack ...   
Such great plants in a great landscape.

[Philip MacDougall]

Sitting in Denver airport, temperature is 35 C colder than Santiago last night. Trying to post a few pics now that Jonh has done the lion's share of posting. Philip

 Adesmia parvifolia
 Alstromeria spathulata
 Caiophora coronata
 Chuquiraga oppositifolia
 Junella spathulata
 Neoporteria curvispina
 Oreopolus glacialis
 Polystitum andinum    maybeus
 Rhodophialia rhodolirion
 Schizanthus hookeri

[Maggi Young]

Hi, Philip... thanks for this!  Just the flower fix I need today!

[Philip MacDougall]

More pics. Was very excited by Puya on hill above the ski lodge we stayed at. They get significant snow and freezing in the winter. My sensible companions didn't quite share in my excitement. Oh well. Philip

Chlorea alpina
 Eucryphia cordifolia
 Fasicularia sp. Above tree line
 Me and my Puya
 Nassauvia pinnigera
 

[ranunculus]

I'm with you in the excitement stakes, Philip!  Wonderful stuff. Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to post.

[Philip MacDougall]

Nice at 3800m an hour outside of Santiago

Calandrinia graminifolia

[Philip MacDougall]

And for those addicted to order.Philip

Nastanthus aggglomeratus