Cambios

*2024-Feb-03 to 2024-Feb-09 / 3.5 days NOBO+1.5 days SOBO / Packrafting / NOBO Flipflop / RP / Lauren, Sebastian & Daniel

Day 1: We hiked (and shortly hitchhiked) on the MR until the start of 29PN-04A and started to paddle Rio Picacho. Even though the first 1km was quite fun, we quickly came up on a rapid which featured a strong current and lots of wood if you go down straight. Daniel managed to go down the right side upon receiving the info but it’s impossible to see from further up yourself and conditions might change. In general the current will try to push you straight down left over a log on which our boat ran aground. After freeing the boat we ran aground a second time on another log just behind before going down the small drop and making a sharp turn into the small canyon. Once in the canyon we needed to portage, as the tiny passage in the canyon was completely blocked with wood. It was possible to portage fairly easily, but in general we would recommend to NOT do 29PN-04A and to start with RP at the normal starting point.After the initial hickup, Rio Picacho was pure joy and we stopped to fish in a river where no other people go and have access towith many class I-II rapids with narrow turns. We camped at -44.93007, -72.49047.

Day 2: We continued down Rio Picacho and eventually reached Lago Copa. The water level was low and we were not able to safely run the first rapid. It was possible to portage around the first rapid along the rocks on the left side of the rapid without going through any vegetation. For the second rapid we had a slight misconception regarding the earlier accounts and deflated our boats and tried to follow the RP by using the bypass on an abandoned settler’s trail. After not being able to make more than 200m/hour through dense forest and looking for the elusive trail that often led to a dead end, we re-read Jan&Team’s account and realized that we could probably also portage this rapid along the rocks. (Recommend Note: recommend to look at the 2 videos we posted on Facebook group . It’s important to make an a safe assessment for yourself regarding suitability of water level as once you enter the gorge, high water conditions will make it a point of no return. 2nd rapid is impossible to scout before entering the gorge.). We went back to the lake, set up the boats again and found that we could portage this second rapid by staying on the right side.

Day 3: We started early to cross Lago Copa 4 and 5 and to make our way into the mandatory bush-bashing section. The trail made by Jan and Team is still very well visible, and GPT packrafter Jordan had informed us that he has traveled this route a few weeks ago and worked on it with his machete as well. It was not difficult to follow the trail and we hardly lost the way, but it was overall pretty tough and slow walking.In the current condition a machete was not necessary, but we had ours handy and used it along the entire trail to help keep it open.Even though right now it’s not absolutely necessary to use a machete, every team should bring one on this trail to help keep it open, as no other people are using this trail which will be easily taken over by vegetation. We took an easy 2-3 hours for this bushbashing part. If you walk fast, you can do it in less than 2. After we reached Lago Escondido, we paddled to wp Camp {29PN} [64.4+0.5/11] and stayed the night.

Day 4: We paddled down Rio Cisnes to the fjord back into Puerto Cisnes. There was incoming weather which we managed to closely avoid but the waves can easily build up in rain conditions.

Overall a section despite being filled with it‘s own some challenges, remains one of our favourites on the GPT hence far due to Lago Copa’s remoteness and tranquility. 29RP SOBO Río Mañihuales has no mentionable difficulties, except the two indicated rapids where we decided to line the boat. We did the flipflop by taking the bus from Puerto Cisnes all the way to put in at WP ‘GPT29P-AH end’. This makes sense for us as it avoids the numerous portaging by the road. An enjoyable ride on Río Mañihuales with good flow speed that led us right to Río Aysén and Puerto Aysén where we ended to resupply. It is however a big contrast to the tranquility of 29NOBO, as it is near the road.