GPT01 - Cerro Purgatorio
Section Statistics
| Traversable | Dec - Mar (Conditionally: Nov, Apr) | |
| Packraft | Only Burden | |
| Hiking | Packrafting | |
| Attraction | 1 / 5 | No Packrafting Rating |
| Difficulty | 2 / 5 | No Packrafting Rating |
| Distance | 39.4 km | 14 h | Same as Hiking |
| Direction | Both ↓↑ | Both ↓↑ |
| Comment | - | |
| Status | Published and Verified, To be Recorded by GPS | |
| Zone | A: Zona Precordillera | |
| Region | Chile: Region Metropolitano (V) | |
| Start | Santiago, Metro Puente Alto | |
| Finish | El Melocotón | |
| Previous Section | Next Section | Alternative Section |
| Start | GPT02 | No |
Section Planning Status
The regular route and most options have been hiked and recorded by various hikers in recent years and feedbacks are incorporated in the track files. (2019)
Recommended Travel Period
Regular Route: The relative northern latitude and the maximum elevation of 2200 m should make remaining snow less of an issue in spring. Also no major river crossings are required on the regular route. Therefore this section should be traversable starting from November or possibly even in October. During May snow may start to accumulate. (2019)
Option 1 Rio Clarillo: This option links GPT01 directly with GPT02 and is expected to open up later than the regular route due to its higher elevation. See the Recommended Travel Period of GPT02 for further information to this option. (2019)
Benefits of Hiking and Packrafting
This section does not contain any packrafting making packrafting gear an annoying burden on the very steep ascents and descents of this section. (2019)
Recommended Travel Direction
Regular Route: The regular route can be hiked in either direction. (2019)
Option 1 Ril Clarillo: This options traverses the Reserva Nacional Rio Clarillo. When hiking southbound CONAF park rangers at the entrance near Pirque might not permit a traverse and insist that all hikers return on the same route. But when hiking northbound the Reserva Nacional Rio Clarillo is entered in a sector not monitored by CONAF. Leaving the Reserva Nacional at the entrance near Pirque will not be an issue therefore GPT01 Option 1 is currently recommended in northbound direction only. Combined with GPT02 this option is probably the more attractive finish for northbound hikers. (2019)
Hikers that took this option and have a good command of Spanish might talk to the CONAF park rangers and outline hike. This might facilitate acceptance by CONAF park rangers for southbound traverses of this attractive option. (2019)
Section Length and Travel Duration
Regular Route: The 40 km short regular route can be hiked in two demanding or three more relaxed days. (2019)
Option 1 Rio Clarillo: This sections links directly with GPT02. See Section Length and Travel Duration of GPT02 for information to this subject. (2019)
Northbound hikers should avoid walking into Santiago in the late evening and either take a bus to the metro station Puente Alto or spend the last night in the mountains before walking into the populated areas of Santiago. (2019)
Section Attractiveness
Regular Route: The regular route leads quickly out of the bustling capital Santiago and follows mostly a barely used minor road that was build for the construction and maintenance of an underground gas pipeline. This section is certainly not a highlight of the GPT but a worthwhile start. Especially hikers that advocate connecting footsteps will appreciate that you can walk in two or three hours straight from a busy subway station into the quite Precordillera. (2019)
Option 1 Rio Clarillo: For northbound hikers this option is probably the more attractive choice to finish their endeavour on the GPT. (2019)
Section Difficulty
Regular Route: The regular route requires a long, very steep ascent and descent that are physically demanding. But apart from this no mayor difficulties and dangers are known.
Option 1 Rio Clarillo: This sections links directly with GPT02. See Section Difficulty of GPT02 for information to this subject. (2019)
Resupply
Resupply Towns at Start, Finish and off Route
Santiago
What you can't source in Santiago you probably don't get anywhere else in Chile.
El Melocoton
El Melocoton is a rather small village in the Maipo valley. You will get standard food items but to satisfy more sophisticated desires you might need to take a bus to San Jose de Maipo or Santiago.
Resupply en Route
There are no known resupply possibilities along the route.
Access to Route
Santiago, Metro Puente Alto
Plaza de Puente Alto is an underground metro station and the southern terminal station of Line 4 of the Santiago Metro network.
Permits, Entry Fees, Right-of-Way Issues
Regular Route
Regular Hiking Route
Elevation Profile of Regular Hiking Route
Comments to Regular Hiking Route
Regular Packrafting Route
This section does not contain any packrafting therefore the Regular Packrafting Route is identical with Regular Hiking Route.
