During breakfast we continued the great conversations from the previous evening. It made me realise that due to the size of the Copiapoathon party I had missed out on so many of these chats. Another reason for considering this as the last Copiapoathon as a semi-organised cactus exploration project that at its peak this year consisted of 22 people in a convoy of 8 cars. We had temporarily 'lost' one of the participants for a whole night without anyone noticing at 'Puma Bay', and Rudolf's scouting trip in October had highlighted the lack of available accommodation in many of the planned places and thanks to his efforts we were booked in every night. Eating facilities too were stretched in many towns by the size of our group.

Today's adventure was to climb to Cerro La Campana in the Parque Nacional La Campagna to see Eriosyce garaventae that is only known from this location. By all accounts this was certainly not a hike for the faint hearted and I had already done a reality check and made up my mind that if I could not keep up with the others, I would fill my day and be satisfied in seeing the images that they would bring back.

I was right. At the rangers station there was a route map that suggested that, although only 7 km in length, it would take experienced, fit, hikers five hours to get to the top. Although the walk back down would be easier, it should still take some 2 hours. It was 10:30, so it should be possible for the others to get back by 17:30, the time that the park closes its gates. There was no time for me to slow them down. Using the route map I set my own target as the second water stop, about half way up.

From base, the well marked footpath runs steeply through thick tree and shrub vegetation. I think it was when I stopped to take some shots of a nice red Alstroemeria, half a km after starting, that I lost touch with them, as they had set off at a pace that did not allow too much looking around or photography. I took a total of 111 images, stored as S722, of the scenery and flora and including proof that I had made it to the second water point (at 12:41) and beyond, returning here again at 13:44 and back at base by 15:30.  The rangers left at 17:30, having been reassured by Florencia on her mobile phone that they were fine and on their way back. Juan was the first back, at around 18:30, followed by Leo some fifteen minutes later and Flo soon there after. The only sensible thing to do was to find a place to stay in Olmue, which we did at Hosteria Airo Puro, where we had a cabaña with a view of Cerro La Campana

So what did we see? Juan, Flo and Leo reached the Eriosyce garaventae population and took many nice images. The population extends  right to the top of the hill and of course they have pictures of the highest plant. During my wanderings beyond the second water stop, the thick vegetation began to thin out and I found a nice rock outcrop basking in bright sunshine. There was a nice Puya, P. berteroniana, growing at the top and a number of Echinopsis (Trichocereus) chiloensis scattered around the large boulders. A great photo opportunity that became even better as I found several Eriosyce curvispina, in full fruit. Unfortunately, there was a narrow, but very deep canyon separating me from the fruits, but fortunately the zoom lens bridged the gap for some nice pictures.

While waiting at base, I found the E. curvispina again, but here, in a shadowy cultivated spot, still in flower and a plaque that honours the efforts of Alvaro Valenzuela Gonzalez and Agustin Garaventa Hirst in creating the National Park in 1967. So the second named individual seems to be the one after whom Ritter named the Eriosyce.  

I also read up a bit more on E. garaventae and found that one of its synonyms is Neoporteria curvispina var. garaventai, so that I must look up more details to see how the variety differs from E. curvispina. Finally, Juan and Flo brought back the most exciting news for me, there is a track, suitable only to 4x4 cars, that takes you up to only some 20 minutes walk (for them) from the garaventae population, so that was immediately pencilled in for a future trip!