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Shelter built at 5,800 meters on Tupungato mountain using wood from Ñuble

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A helicopter transported 30 tons of materials over 10 days, completing 50 trips to the highest peak in the Metropolitan Region.

At 5,800 meters above sea level lies Chile's Tupungato mountain, one of the most imposing peaks in the Andes, attracting thousands of hikers, climbers, and travelers each year. Today, it is also known for being part of the "Los 16 de Chile" project, which aims to build shelters on the highest mountain in each region of the country to boost tourism.

The structure—installed just a few days ago—was built using cross-laminated timber (CLT) from ARAUCO's HILAM plant, located in the commune of Yungay, Ñuble Region. The reasons: it is a versatile material offering a wide range of structural applications for walls, floors, and roofs, with the potential for industrialization to enable fast, waste-free assembly—key factors when building in hard-to-access locations. Additionally, it provides excellent thermal insulation, ideal for creating cozy spaces that withstand low external temperatures.

Another important aspect is that CLT panels are relatively lightweight, making them easier to transport to high or hard-to-reach places. In this case, a helicopter was tasked with carrying 30 tons of materials in 50 trips to the highest summit in the capital. In just 10 days, a team of 9 people assembled the CLT structure, completing the entire shelter—including all finishes—in 45 days.

"Wood has everything the mountain needs, proving once again its versatility and suitability for diverse projects and purposes. We are thrilled to participate in this initiative and hope to continue contributing the benefits of forests to such projects," emphasized Fernando Marcone, Wood Construction Deputy Manager at Arauco.