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==Season 2024/25==
Section 05; Tinguirica to Termas del Flaco
A technically easy mountain that can be done without glacier travel via the west slope. We started by going straight up from camp aiming for a slope left of the glacier above us -34.84223, -70.36944. It involved quite a bit of large, loose boulder hopping but it was the most direct way from our camp. There is a large dried water bed after that climb that could serve as a camp. From there we were on track of the Tinguirica regular route (RR) which led us north of the flats and then up right and over to the source of Arr.Fray Carlos (only viable water source but may be frozen). After the Arroyo it was a long traverse down to below Tinguirica's glacier bottom (just a little under 3800m). The route we had on the gps went further down to ~3700m because of a deep ravine but we found a good snow bridge to save the elevation -34.82685, -70.36107. After that and after crossing below a cliff that was above we started the accent. It was easier to veer up and right to the only flattish spot and then directly up to the false summit. The rock up is annoying but easy and it didn't feel dangerous despite getting more steep near the top. For me this was a grueling climb due to the altitude and once at the top I knew I had to go back down quickly. This was a shame bcs the views were fascinating, especially looking towards the site of the Uruguayan plane crash. Tomáš had no issues with the altitude so he chose to take a different way back via Volcán Azufreras. This may be the standard approach but it did involve walking on the glacier a bit._____
We met back at the Arr. Fray Carlos only to separate one more time as Tomáš went up his third 4000er' of the day, Volcán Fray Carlos. I was still ill of the thought of going up to 4000 again so I headed towards Volcán Natalia where I would meet Tomáš one more time (The name made this Volcán a must for us). We were determined to get there while staying around 3500m, which is more or less like the RR. The only issue we had was the snow/glacier around -34.84497, -70.37097. You must go down the side of it where it meets the moraine, it is somewhat of an ice stair case with lots of rock fall potent beside you. Besides that the traverse was easy CC and the summit of Natalia was very simple and quick with beautiful views. It would make a good acclimatization destination. We then CC'd back to camp just before dark on talus, boulders and sand.
The next day was a bit of an unknown. Our mission was to get back to Termas del Flaco on traíls but the easiest way would have been to go down the RR and then walk the road, but the road looked dreadful. Tomáš was sure there would be Arriero trails leading directly to Termas del Flaco and sure enough he was right. Our goal was to get to this valley -34.91315, -70.41992 somehow via the steep slope of Arr.del Guanaco. We had three different ideas of getting there; An unlikely ridge that would avoid the steep traverse, a random Wikiloc entry that went down a very steep pass, and or our original idea of traversing the whole slope starting at a low pass on the far west side. It took us most of the day just to get to the first ridge option (easy CC to the creek bed of Arr.de Los Humos, then up a moraine and a short steep boulder climb to -34.88646, -70.39137, and then CC up and down boulders and moraines to the ridge,-34.90205, -70.40530, (lots of small ponds along the way for water). The ridge was definitely a no go. We then looked at the Wikiloc idea, -34.91023, -70.42133, it "may" have gone but neither of us liked it. Therefore we went to our third (original) idea which was surprisingly easy to get too if you stayed low. The way there passed an incredibly beautiful lake -34.88423, -70.41428. At this last pass there was a horse trail- yay. We will devise a better route that goes directly to here from Basecamp and even more direct, the Puesto inbthr lower valkey. At this pass the horsetail only lasted a few switchbacks until it became confusing to follow due to the MANY sheep trails. While going down we could see there were two options of getting out of the valley; the steep traverse here -34.91023, -70.42133, (which from afar looked only like a sheep trail) and or a more dominant one roughly here -34.90538, -70.42522, (dominant but we were unsure exactly where it led). We made camp in what looked like a perfect green plateau but it was totally wet, and Tomáš went up to explore the first option. He found out that it was a horse trail at the top with a cairn so we opted to take that one the next morning.
Post altitude sickness and stomach issues were still plaguing me so the way up was torture, but it was technically easy. We had to CC straight up the slope for ~300 meters until meeting the main horse trail (soft sand). We think there is no main horse trail the whole way because after a certain point most of the horses/arrieros just go straight down. We guess this because we met an Arriero on the way up doing that exact thing. The arriero we met was coming to begin the process of moving the sheep down for the winter, there was another down below. The arriero came up the valley we were heading too but bringing the sheep down the valley we saw the dominant horse trail in (so there must be a good trail down there as well). After chatting we continued to the top which from there one can see the main trail down "most" of the way. There is a nice spring not far from the top. The route down is easy to loose in the grassy sections (like always) but it is easy to find again. It stays on the left (east) side but crosses the creek to the right at a grassy horse pasture to avoid the steep landslide on the left. It then traverses for a short period on the right along dirt before crossing the creek one more time towards an annoying section of hard dirt and rock on the left. There are a few ditches that are annoying and edgy to cross and the going is slow. The last ditch we crossed is slightly higher up than expected ~ -34.94271, -70.42011 and from then on it is easy dust/dirt walking towards the intersection of the Dinosaur trail and Termas del Flaco. The dinos are a must see and only takes a ~20-30min detour, -34.95566, -70.42474. After that it was FINALLY down to the Termas- yay!. The shops in del Flaco are very simple and meant for snacks, so not a good place to resupply for more than a few days. If you are lucky there is a man who sells fruit here -34.95830, -70.43705 some mornings but not every morning. We went to the camping near the free hotspring "wastewater" location Tomáš stumbled upon two years ago (read his post on GPT04, 2022/23. The camping was very busy as it was a Saturday and so were the free hotsprings. Very different than what Tomáš experienced two years ago. We wonder how the payed Hotsprings stay in business, there were at least 30people there. The camping is 10mil pp and has a restaurant with improved WiFi (no cell signal in town). However, due to late night Chilean noise we decided to leave the camping and camp outside town because we hadn't actually payed or set up our tent yet...
In the end Termas del Flaco makes for a great place to end such an adventure but do note that it is COMPLETELY closed by the end of April***. Also note that there is not much fresh food to buy and the best bang for your buck would be sleeping at a hospedaje (~45mil including 3-4meals). But camping near the free Hotsprings is nice too if it is not too busy:).
Note*** the road to Termas del Flaco is technically one way and therefore you can only:
"Leave"; Mon-Sat between 5am-7am and Sundays between 2pm-9pm.
"Arrive"; Mon-Sat 6pm-9pm and Sundays 6am-12p.
It seems the closer to the ends of those times the more relaxed the control is, we got a hitch out at 1:30ish. Buses "to" San Fernando go every day; Mon-Sat @ 7am, and Sundays @2:30pm.
* '''2024-JAN-8 to 2024-JAN-11 / 4 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + Hiking Option 3, 6, & 6A / Elijah & Michael'''
