==Season 2021/22==
* 2021-Nov-25 to 2021-Nov-28 ==Season 2020/ 4 days / GPT78 RR Southbound / Land traverse from Rio Puelo to Hornopiren / Meylin Elisabeth Ubilla González and Jan DudeckFirst: Thank you Linda Bortoletto and Martin Lizondo for recording this route when being guided by Patricio Bayer in season 2019/20. And thank you for leaving a positive memory with Patricio Bayer. We were granted permission to cross his property after a phone call.21==
This route connects Rio Puelo with Hornopiren via Lago Pinto Concha. Highlights are the dense Valdivian Rainforest, the gigantic Alerce trees, the wetlands on the plateau with Cypress trees, the traverse of the volcanic terrain of volcan Yates and the lake Pinto Concha.==Season 2019/20==
This route was created many decades ago to drive cattle from the Puelo valley to the coast before a road was build along the Puelo river. Now this route is barely used and only the trail section inside the National Park Hornopiren towards Hornopiren is well maintained.==Season 2018/19==
This route is best hiked southbound and only after obtaining permission from Patricio Beyer by phone * 2018-Dec-14 to 2018-Dec-17 / GPT78P / Packrafting (+56 9 8132 4070 and +56 9 9573 5461). You will also cross Hornopiren to Rio Puelo along the property of Eulogio (Lalocoast) Soto who will probably checks by phone with Patricio Beyer first before letting you pass. He will charge an entrance fee of 5000 CLP per person./ Jan Dudeck & Meylin Elisabeth Ubilla González
The route is now slightly altered After we failed to traverse on the northern end land route from Hornopirén to facilitate a otherwise very demanding river crossing Rio Puelo (Diversion from Regular Route at: S 41.7806 / W 72.2403 … Now recommended river ford: S 41.7771 / W 72.2359 … Rejoin Regular Route at: S 41.7803 / W 72.7204via Lago Pinto Concha and Rio Traidor)we opted for the sea route. This part water route turned out to be challenging as expected but more feasible. 100 km in fjords and along rather open coast lines was easier and also more attractive than fighting our way through 7 km of Valdivian Rainforest (this was the trail is generally well maintained and visiblelength of the „missing link” of the land route that we attempted last week but couldn’t traverse fully).
The navigation challenge starts south of the Puesto of Patricio Bayer (PointHornopirén to Puntilla Pichicolo: Settler {78} [37This is a section with very few exits along a steep coast.6/398]) and ends when leaving It should be paddled in the forrest towards the lava field of Volcan Yates early morning before wind picks up. A short cut from Cholgo (southern end of track: RH-TL&BB-V {78} [24.6+16.8]GPT77P). A good part of via the trail hot springs Llancahue to Puntilla Pichicolo is rarely used and poorly maintained and many animal tracks make the “main trail” often indistinguishable from other weakly visible trackssmart choice if you do not need to resupply in Hornopirén. But the often dense vegetation We paddled it on a calm morning with hardly and the irregular geography make following the “main trail” essentialwind.
We verified our position typically every 50 m, sometimes even Puntilla Pichocolo to Rolecha: This sector is less problematic since you paddle along a flat coast with plenty of exits next to a road. This part is more oftenwind exposed but you can easily switch between paddling, hiking or taking motorized transport. The internal compass We paddled most of our handheld GPS was very helpful this segment (to frequently realign Queten) where increasing head wind forced us to out of the “main trail” that takes many unexpected turns water and twistswe took motorized transport to Caleta Puelche to not wait two days for a change of weather.
I assume we are the first hikers in many years that walk this route without a guide. But even with a very precise GPS record the navigation was unexpected demanding. We consumed substantially more GPS battery power than normal due Rolecha to Tentelhue: Due to the frequent checks strong currents and we still accidentally wandered of wind exposure at the “main trail” often. Hikers have no chance to traverse this water route without a GPS and without around tip of the GPT track file. Even backtracking out memory is barely possible. Therefore peninsula it seams a backup navigation device and sufficient recharge power are a life insurance wise choice to hike 2 km on this routethe road instead of paddling if you camped or stopped nearby.
Once the open lava field of Volcan Yates Tentelhue to Caleta Puelche: This segment is reached navigation becomes simpler. After less problematic since you paddle along a cross country traverse in an open volcanic landscape flat coast with plenty of exits next to a well maintained and road. This part is more wind exposed but you can easily visible trail leads down switch between paddling, hiking or taking motorized transport. We took motorized transport to Lago Pinto Concha and HornopirenCaleta Puelche.
==Season 2020/21==Fiordo Reloncavi (Caleta Puelche to Rio Puelo): This fjords is quite challenging due to wind and partly strong tidal currents. There are some exits along the coast. Favourable wind (Northbound travel direction) are common but might get too strong to paddle or sail safely. We struggled on the first 8 km with strong currents despite having rising tide. Flows at the fjord entrance are rather strange and unexpected. We than continue the next morning but had to bail out after 1 hour on the water to wait for more suitable weather (strong wind, heavy rain, low visibility made paddling to dangerous). We luckily stopped at the right place and became the guests of an older couple that cultivate mussels. We spend a day of rest with them in their tiny house right on the coast. Once the conditions improved it became a fantastic but demanding paddling day. We started in calm weather and around noon strong wind from the back pushed us to Rio Puelo and further to Cochamo. ==Season 2019/20== ==Season 2018/19==More details on request.
==Season 2017/18==
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