Cambios

[[File:2015-04-04_14.21.40.jpg|thumb|1100px|Panoramic view of El Morado lagoon from the opposite angle of the classic lookout point. In the background, [[Cortaderas]] and [[Loma Larga]] peaks, and to the right, part of the north hillside of [[Cerro Unión]] ]]

*'''Ski Touring''': Between June and mid-October. Keep in mind that starting mid-August it might be necessary to carry your skis on first stretch. On the other hand, in mid-winter the car path is cut at Lo Valdés mining facilities, so you might have to start at Baños Morales.

[[File:Laguna_del_morado_marzo.jpg|thumb|El Morado lagoon in March]] This town is the last spot to fill up, but requires taking a small detour to the north river side. You must keep on the main road and avoid the detour to Baños Morales.

After 1,6 kilometers from the fork at Baños Morales, the paved road ends and you will pass Lo Valdés mining facilities, where there is some accumulation from the gypsum mine. Six kilometers further from the fork to Banos Morales, and after the "Cuesta de los Afligidos" hill, you will reach a bridge that crosses the Colina river. Just 120 meters after this bridge you will reach "Cabrerío" ([http://www.panoramio.com/photo/63263955 see photo]), to the left of the main path.

"Cabrerío" consists of basically a shelter that is frequented by herders. You can recognize it by a large rock with a small chimney on the top. Here is where the main road is abandoned by turning left on the fork in front of "Cabrerío" to venture into the Arenas mountain valley (set the kilometer marker to zero at this point).

The power station has closed the old road on their work area, but has opened a new one that goes further up. On kilometer 6,5 it joins with the old road and reaches a nice plateau, popularly known as "El Choriboulder" due to the large amount of climbing boulders in the area, and a bouldering event that took place here in 2004.

If you drive a 4x4 you can continue for two more kilometers on the old road in [[road condition|very bad condition]]. The drive here is almost at walking pace, so the usefulness of this road is debatable.

If you take the bus to Banos Morales, there are good chances to make the autostop up to Cabrerio. Getting an autostop from Cabrerio to the parking space (red route) is harder but possible, especially during the summer weekends. If you decide to take the bus and you don't want to try autostop, walk the yellow route.

Having parked the car, abandon the main route to take a car path in [[road condition|bad condition]], that will become progressively in [[road condition|very bad condition]]. On the first two kilometers, the path will go by the back of the valley on the west side of the river, where it will slowly gain altitude. At 2.805 AMSL you will pass next to a flag.

Afterwards, the path will begin to distance itself from the main river of the valley, each time higher on the mountain hillside. The slope becomes considerably steeper than on the first stretch of the trek. You will have to continuously cross small creeks on the path. The route is always visible since most of it takes place on the old car path.

You will then have to cross a creek (3.039 AMSL) that comes from the northeast and ascend it on its east side (right side). This is the steepest stretch.

After having crossed the small creek, at 3,079 AMSL, you will reach the absolute end of the car path (Sidenote: In March of 2013 it was still possible to reach this point by car). Reaching this point by car is very difficult and risky: on the highest stretch this old car path is nothing more than a print with big loose rocks).

Although the start of the walking path is noticeable, this area is covered in snow during the beginning of the summer. [[:image:Laguna_del_morado_noviembre.jpg|ver imagen]] The lagoon is located in a cirque that forms to the west of this valley, so you must walk in that direction.

The path does not face the slope directly to the west, but in an oblique line to the northeast. Right at the end of the ascent you will be rewarded by a spectacular panoramic view of El Morado hanging glaciar [[Cerro Morado]], its adjacent glaciers, and its lagoon with ice floes.

If upon reaching Lo Valdés gypsum mine the path is closed (which is likely to be the case between June and September) you will have to return and take the detour to Baños Morales, and advance on Volcán's river's north side. It is 5.6 kilometres along the yellow route, on an old car path - good for skying - up to the junction with the path that starts at Cabrerio, ascending from 1860 AMSL to 2275 AMSL. This should take a little less than two hours. From this junction, it's 5.4 kilometers more along the blue route to the beginning described on the previous section, and that can be reached by car when there's no snow. This stretch entails an ascent from 2275 meters to 2628 meters, which should take another 1.5 hour or so.

At a normal pace and finishing the route, the hike should consist of 3 hours going up and 2,5 hours back down. Add an extra hour if you are starting from "choriboulders" area.

File:Carancho1.JPG|Mountain "Carancho" in El Morado Glacier (juvenile specimen)File:Carancho2.JPG|Mountain "Carancho" in El Morado Glacier (juvenile specimen)

This area presents two types of climate: A temperate one with a long dry season and an ice one due to the effects of the altitude. The average annual temperature is 13ºC, and the annual average rainfall reaches 600mm. Humidity is over 40% for most of the year. The Arenas Valley belongs to what is called "Cuenca Superior Río Volcán" (High Basin of the Volcan River), making it one of the main tributaries of the Volcan river, along with the sub-basin of La Engorda river. The highest flowrates occur during the months of November and March, due to the rising temperatures. During the winter months, the flowrate is markedly decreased.

Regarding the flora, low shrubs no higher than 50cm dominate the area, alternating with turfs of gramineas, with hard leaves. Perennial herbs dominate humid sectors. Native species stand out along with wild exotics. You can find the sclerophyllic Andean scrub, and the high Andean steep of the Santiago mountain range forms in the high Andean sector (Volcan river)

A total of 86 species can be found here: three amphibians, nine reptiles, 70 species of birds of which nine are hunters, 10 aquatic birds and 51 not predatory, and four are mammals. In El Morado river area, there are about 16 species in conservation status, most of which are reptiles, followed by amphibians, mammals and birds.