Cambios

Contact: @martin_hanzelka @helenneka

* 12/03/2023 - 18/03/2023 / RR SOBO / Jakub+Veronika:

It seems that on RR (35, km 141) ends new 11km long track ”Huemules” which starts at the parking in Chacabuco valley on RP (35, km 132.5). That trail might be a nice alternative to RR (mud road) leading over private land of settler David Huemul.

* 20 to 24 of February 2023 / Silke & Hans / Loop - Fachinal -> Chile Chico

DAY 5 / 36km / +830m /

Final day along the normal route to the entrance of Laguna Jeinimeni. The day started off with some heavy rain for a couple of hours, but all the river crossings were still very doable. We arrived at the entrance around 13:00, and there was no sign of anybody leaving soon. So we decided to continue hiking untill we could find a ride along the way. We ended up hiking an extra 19km before finally a car was willing to take us along. There is an established campsite at the entrance for 3000 pesos pp.

* 19 to 24 of February 2023 / Will / SOBO, regular route

Not much water or campsites along the siete lagunas. There's a nice campsite at the tip of the pencil lake just after the (still intact!) refugio at 133.9.

* 2023-Feb-12-19 / NOBO / RR + Option 35-L / Ondrej and Bara / Cochrane - Chile Chico / 7.5 days

A ranger in Casa de Piedras wanted to prevent us to walk the RR NOBO from Casa de Piedras to Valle Hermoso. He claimed that route is closed now as the rivers are too high to cross. To avoid conflict, we said that we will only do the “loop trail” which is basically the RR from Casa de Piedras up until the bridge where the RR joins Option J. The Option J is then used to return back to Casa de Piedras. When doing the loop, we met several hikers in the opposite direction who confirmed that all river crossings are fine. In light of this we decided to continue on the RR and indeed the deepest ford was to our knees. Therefore if faced with a ranger claiming that the rivers are too high, we suggest to start with the loop trail (rangers should be okay with that) and get more info on the river levels from the hikers going the opposite direction.

* January 27 - Feb. 1 / Véronica & Zach / RP + Option 10 / 5.5 days

I started on the regular route with Veronica, paddling Lago Verde and her paddling half of Lago Jeinemeni in the AM when the wind was light. The wind was strong in the afternoon. We split at Casa de Piedra where a CONAF ranger told me I needed a permit to paddle but relented when I explained I had all safety equipment and accepted full responsibility for my actions. I followed Rio Chacabuco to Rio Baker to Cochrane (Option 10). This was a nice opportunity to practice streamlining packraft deployment as there are 4 cross country portages around beautiful canyons. The “CONAF Refuge, Camp” (km 123.2) is a nice spot. The footbridge in the second canyon provides a nice view of the canyon and distant glaciers. Cross country navigation is straightforward with gps but I did miss the gap between cliffs just past the footbridge. You can also paddle upstream a short way after the last portage for a little canyon visit. The rapid shortly after the Ruta 7 bridge is worth scouting but doable. Rio Chacabuco is consistently swift. Upon merging with Rio Baker, the current (8-10 km/hr) and wind both picked up. A sheltered, quiet camp is located (-47.1479, -72.6136). Perhaps not as beautiful as the RP route, but the rivers were so nice.

*27 of January to 1 of February 2023 / Véronica & Zach / GPT35 RR SOBO / 5.5 days

The horse trail that goes from the puesto of Daniel Huemul (km 143.3) to Lago Cochrane was also rough and overgrown. Everything gets easier once you reach Lago Cochrane though, nice, maintained trails all the way to Cochrane with beautiful places to camp along the lake.

* GPT35 / Yannic & Mirjam / 2022-Dec-13

We spent one night at Laguna Guagua (Refugio is completely destroyed) and one at Lago Cochrane.

When we left the national park, no one was at the office. We therefore simply went through...

* GPT35 Variant P, Option 3, 3C, 3D / Meylin Ubilla, Jan Dudeck / 2022-Dec-12 and 13 / 1.5 days

Packrafters can travel east and westbound on Lago Cochrane and will not pass any park entrance.

* Alice & Florian / 4 to 10 November-2022 / Regular Hiking Northbound

After that it's really easy to the Parc entrance. We went back to Chile Chico walking on the road instead of taking the cross country option, because0 there were still snow on the mountain. The first part is still pretty until the intersection, once you enter the valley of the Rio it is a bit more monotonous. Halfway there is an access to an annex of the national park, to go see the Cueva de las manos and valle lunar.

* Adrien Kunzli / 31-Oct-2022-04-November-2022 / Regular Hiking Northbound