Early start from Bariloche, with a long day in Peggy ahead of us. We stopped at the border crossing - the last on on this trip. We arrived in Pucon, which is a small ski resort on the edge of a volcanic lake. It has a very Swiss feel to it. The views of the Villarica volcano from our hotel on a clear day were incredible. Dinner was with the usual gang but we could tell we were back in Chile - all over cooked. We were staying in the best accommodation so far an apartment Hotel. Jude was doing the volcano walk the following morning....... Early start again ... 7am to get kitted out. A group from Budget Expeditions were there when we arrived. By the time they were kitted out and then us it was nearly 8.30am. We were halfway to the park gates when they turned around and came back to Pucon. They had let one of the guides behind. They drove at breakneck speed back to the park. By the time we got to the chairlift it was gone 9am and I was tired already. The weather was already closing in and the chair in front disappeared into the mist...... There must have been about 25 people on the climb with 5 guides. I had a deja vu moment back about 25 years when I was in the Bernese Alps with an ice axe and crampons (see pic). We started the initial ascent as one group which quickly grew into a long snake. It was really hard going, very steep and slippery. As I stopped to catch my breath people gradually overtook me. Elaine and I ended up climbing together. Eventually we got to the snow, we were now using the ice axes to steady ourselves but it was quite slippery as we were following in everyone's steps. The weather worsened, it was snowing a bit and very misty. After what seemed like ages Elaine stopped and said she didn't feel very safe. Exactly the same thing was going through my head so we decided to turn back. One of the guides came back down with us and we were at least able to come down the last chute. What brilliant fun, it was like tobogganing without the toboggan. We were laughing and squeaking a lot. We then had to walk all the way to the bottom of the chairlift. By now it was raining and I was cold and tired.......and hungry. We ate our lunch and waited for a Good Samaritan to give us a lift back into town. Luckily we only had to wait about half an hour. That hot shower back at the hotel never felt so good. I was disappointed I didn't make it but glad I tried.