Travels around the world 2009-2024
Exploring our beautiful planet

Chilecito

May 30, 2022  —  Argentina

The city of Chilecito

Chilecito - Argentina

Chilecito, at the foot of the Sierra Famatina with its peaks over 6000 metres, is an old mining town with an abandoned cableway linking the city to the mine. Even nowadays, it is possible to visit the nine stations parts of the cableway. I didn't visit all the stations since, from station 3, difficult hiking is required and at this time of the year the cold is very intense in altitude. I drove the motorbike to the Mejicana Mine; the last station of the cableway (station 9) at an altitude near 4500 metres (see the next blog).

Chilecito - Argentina
Oscar.

During almost a week, I stayed with Oscar, a motorbike aficionado that offers a roof to other motorbike travellers. I had a good time at his place, and it was a very pleasant week. We talked a lot about motorbikes and even more about travelling.

I did several excursions in order to visit the surroundings of Chilecito. There are sites to see for a few days.

Chilecito - Argentina
Cristo del Portezuelo.
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
The city of Chilecito.
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
A fan of Mad Max?
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina

Molino San Francisco

Chilecito - Argentina

The founder of Chilecito, Don Domingo de Castro y Bazán, once dwelled in this 300-year-old mill.

I only visited the outside as the museum has been permanently closed for the last months.

Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina

Station 1

Chilecito - Argentina
Station 1.

Here is the first station of the mining cableway, in the city of Chilecito. With a length of nearly 34 km, the cableway was constructed in 6 sections and each of them was operated using a steam engine. Stations 1, 5, and 9 didn't have a steam engine and were used to load/unload ores. Stations 4 and 8 had only a steam engine. The other stations (2, 3, 6, and 7) had a steam engine and were also used to load ores.

The transport capacity was 25 tons per hour on the way down and 15 tons per hour on the way up. The fuel used to produce vapour was wood. About 1 ton of firewood was needed for any 45 minutes of operation. The mine was operating at full capacity from 1906 to 1914, and intermittently until 1925. The total quantity of wood used is estimated at 25,519 tons for the years 1906-1914. The resulting deforestation must have been a disaster...

Chilecito - Argentina
Station 1.
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
The cables go through the city on the way to station 2.

The museum at station 1

Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina
Chilecito - Argentina

Station 2

Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina

Here is the station 2, located about 9 km from station 1 in Chilecito. The elevation gain is about 400 metres above the city located at an altitude of 1000 metres.

Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Station 2.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
In the background, the city of Chilecito.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Some carts were used to move workers, food, or equipment.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Cableway switch for sorting wagons and transferring ores from one section to the other.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina

Union de los Ríos

Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina

Near the city, there are a few rivers with yellow waters. At this place, I am at the meeting point of two rivers, one yellow and the other with a bluish colour.

Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina

Station 3

Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina

Station 3 is located at 8 km from station 2 with an elevation gain of 800 metres (at an altitude of 2190 metres).

Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Station 3.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
From this station, the cableway starts to climb rapidly in the mountains.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Counterweight system.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
An oven used to generate vapour.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
A steam engine.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina

La vuelta del Pique

Trail from station 3 to Chilecito via the village of Guanchín.

Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina
Río Amarillo.
Road from Chilecito to Guanchín - Argentina