4607
ediciones
Cambios
→Packraft
===Packraft===
A packraft is a light-weight inflatable boat designed to be carried in the backpack when not needed but to carry the backpacker and his backpack over lakes and rivers when he needs it. A packraft is recommended for sections 11, 12, 13, 15 and , 16, 17 and 18. It may also be used on sections 2, 3, 4 and 7 but on these sections the benefit is limited.
Here you find some [http://www.panoramio.com/user/7876187/tags/Packraft images of our packraft]. We used the Explorer 42 from [http://www.alpackaraft.com/ Alpackaraft.] The total weight of the boat with paddles, waterproof bags and water gear was approx. 6 kg or 3 kg per person if shared. Recently new manufacturer entered this market, i.e. MRS and Nortik, offering similar suitable packrafts. In particular the "MRS - Adventure X2" is probably a good choise for a group of two hikers. The packraft made our trip much more diverse. It was so great to walk to the shore of a lake or river, take the backpack down, inflate the boat, store the gear, take a seat and paddle off.
At the two larger lakes you can alternatively take a daily ferry (Lago Pirihueco) or a private boat transfer (Lago Todos Los Santos). For all other lakes and rivers alternative trails, that circumvent the water are included in the GPS File for Trekking below. So you can bypass on foot all water sections if you do not have a packraft or if wind and weather does not permit the crossing of a lake with a rather tiny boat.
The Lago Todos Los Santos is the most challenging lake of this packraft trail due to its size and orientation. Wind can build up quickly relative high waves. Since we did not carry a dry-suite and since we were packraft novices when staring this investigation we did not deer to cross this lake with our packraft but took a private boat transfer. I would advise against crossing this lake by packraft except if you carry a dry suite and you have plenty of packraft experience.
===GPS and Electronic Map===