Climate
The location of Patagonia between the Pacific and
Atlantic with virtually no other land masses at the same latitude is
the main determining factor on climate. The effect of the huge moist
air masses moving in over the Pacific, hitting the mountains and lifting
over them leads to rapid condensation and heavy precipitation. Most
of this falls on the Westwards facing slopes so once the same air has
passed over the highest peaks and ice fields it is already drier and
rains significantly less untill there is little or no moisture left.
All of this happens in a distance of less than 250 km. As an example,
the rainfall in Puerto Aysen, on the coast is aprox. 3000mm per year,
in Coyhaique, only 85 kms to the east it is 1500mm and a further 50kms
it is down to 700mm. The Puerto Aysen area is surrounded by dense lush
forests of mostly evergreen trees and thick exuberant foliage but the
Balmaceda area has very few naturaly occuring trees and is a typical
pampa or steepe type landscape. We mostly operate on the east side
of the northern ice cap in the transition zone. In summer ( Dec. through
March ) we expect day time temperatures to vary between 12ºc and
28ºc. There is always a chance of rainfall though in summer this
seldom lasts beyond 2 days. On glaciers and lakes cooler winds are
always present. Our clothing and personal equipment list is designed
to cover these ranges of temperatures and climatic conditions. It is
not uncommon to experience four seasons in one day!
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