GPT70 (Alto Rio Futaleufu)

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Add a new log entry always on top in the appropriate season sub-chapter and use format:

* '''Start Date to Finish Date (use Format YYYY-MMM-DD) / Duration in Days / Hiking or Packrafting / Travel Direction (SOBO for Southbound or NOBO Northbound) / Chosen Route and/or Option Name (RR for Regular Route) / Names or Alias'''

If you are packrafting, put the above info into HTML tags like this (if you follow a hiking route for part of the way, highlight only "packrafting", as above):

* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''YYYY-MMM-DD / X days / Packrafting / SOBO / RP / Your name'''</span>.

Include remarks about your route useful for other hikers and packrafters, alerts, suggestions and personal perception of attractiveness and difficulties. Try to be specific. Do not be shy to fix obvious mistakes.

Section Log, Alerts and Suggestions

Season 2024/25

• 2025-02-07/ 24 hours / Packrafting/ SOBO/ RP / Tomáš&Natalie&Thijmen

Facing significant headwinds that made paddling unpleasant (but that were not stopping us from progressing), we camped here: -43.17573, -71.67826. Along the river, we saw signs warning people to take care of their lives as the river can go up upto one meter suddenly due to the dam upstream. We pitched our tents about 20 cm above the water level. We only remembered the signs before falling asleep and despite Natalie's suggestion to move camp up, we somehow did not (male stupidity, anyone?). At around 1 AM, I woke up due to contact with water. We quickly woke up Thijmen, who was sleeping 7 cm above us and so stayed dry and moved our tents one meter higher. The water was rising by about 1 cm per minute maybe. Water took only one of our neoprene socks (we are not the most orderly campers) and destroyed our bread and other foods. It also soaked some of our electronics (kindle, powerbank), but after a few days of drying, they seem to have somehow survived. In the morning, we were maybe 25 cm above the river level and it stayed that way all day. Locals later told us the water level changes everyday and while that day was high, it can go even higher. So beware. Lesson learned: signs sometimes are to be taken seriously!

The next day, we paddled to the border. The takeout before the bridge is a trail at first, so do not be confused if you do not see a road. Passed the border with packraft inflated. Chileans at first wanted a proof of ownership, but when we explained it can be put into a bag, they let it go. Asked if it is possible to get the stamps and cross the border in the boat, but no. Raisins, peanuts and parmesan cheese are apparently ok to take over in Chile – just fruits, vegetables and meat are a nogo – not sure about processed meat.

We put in (without Natalie, who hitched to town) again here: -43.18003, -71.75990 – unobstructed road and a functioning ferry there. Took out here: -43.19670, -71.83411. The river is faster flowing here and more fun. The rapid at 33.1 is, at least when the water is high, solid class III with 1.5m high waves (portage on the left somewhat feasible to get you past the biggest waves, but not past all of the rapid). Only go when you know what you are doing. That is why this is not on the GPT. You could take out here: -43.19434, -71.80799 if you do not want to run the rapid. Another river option in GPT71.

Season 2022/23

• 2023 January / Packrafting/ SOBO/ RP / Jan Pritchard

For those interested we continued to the border on the river getting out at the bridge, only to put the boats back in directly after the chilean control. The section of river up until the first marked rapid is lovely and fast. From the rapid we walked up to the road from where its just 5km to the Town of futaleufu.

Taken from https://web.facebook.com/groups/222224388283455/posts/1526511384521409/

Links to other Resources

Retired Section Article GPT70 - Alto Río Futaleufú