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→Food Supply
On this trail, in particular on the first seven sections you will meet herdsman on the summer pastures with their annimals mainly cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Depending on the altutude and the snow melt they migrate up between October and January and return home in April or May. These herdsman, locally called "Puestero", live in imporvised permanent shelters, called "Puesto". They bring large quantities of food with their horses and mules up in the mountains. You may ask them for food, in particular for flour and bread or whatever they are willing to sell. If you are desperate for meet they may sell you a goat or a sheep but be aware, the smallest quantity for sale is typically half an annimal. To communicate with the locals you need to be speak Spanish.
On section 5 to 10 you will cross the Araucania region with plenty of impressive Araucaria trees. What we liked on this trees were not just the imposing figure of these living fossiles, but the nutritious fruits rich in carbohydrates. The indigious Pehuenche people teached us how to harvest and prepare this food. You can gather these Araucaria "piñoespiñioes" between February and April.
The product range in smaller villages and towns is limited. In particular dehydrated trekking food may not be offered at all. If you prefer to have some special stuff that you find only in Santiago or that you bring with you from overseas you have the following option: You pack a box with food and other gear in Santiago and send the box with one of the mayor bus companies to a town where you plan a resupply stop. To send the box you do not need any address in this town; all you need to do is making yourself the recipient of your own package. The bus company will ship your box to this town in 1 or 2 days and store it until you pick it up (storage of up to 30 days is free of charge). There you can take out of your box whatever you need and resend the box to the next resupply town.
