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→Season 2023/24
==Season 2023/24==
*2024-Feb-15 to 2024-Feb-20 / 5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR - {27-E} - RR / Lilian
Just like Quentin Clavel said,
"If you love wilderness, you will love this section !"
Lot of blowdowns and river crossing at this section, but you have lot of solutions to solve the blowdowns, also river crossing already not a problem at late season, so just enjoy the nature here!
It is the most bird(lot of hummerbird!) I seen from GPT01 to here so far, and i heard some screaming in the midnight, sounds like cats fighting 3 times in 2 nights! I think the most amazing part is lot of beetles, maybe more than thousands, shinning blue, shinning red, shinning brown at the trees crawling, finding others then fighting, push them out to defend their sweet spot! Also black mix golden colours shrimp swimming in the river if you willing stop to take a look!
I took some hours just sit beside some trees and observe beetles fighting, and one of them lose in the fight then drop on my head haha :D
Beautiful water + rainforest + animals = GPT27
The trail from north to Lago Palena til lake inlet and from south to Ford,camp[62.9/883], i think are still maintained by some people, i saw sticks is cut by machete not long time ago, some still with fresh green leaves.
Km0 - km16.5 : hot dirt road, nothing special, recommend hitch as many if you can.
Km6.05 : tiny shop(-43.65140, -71.83734), the last shop before you go in the wild, it was closed when i was there.
Km17.5 : flat spots for camping.(-43.73746, -71.80946)
Ford[26.8/520] : first time of crossing Río Azul. Downstream 10m have rock bar underwater, mostly about half of calf, just 2-3m in the middle part is below knee, running fast but easy crossing. The water and valley views is beautiful here.
Ford[28.2/576] : crossing of Río Azul again. Go in the water at crossing point, go upstream 10m then cross it. About knee deep, this one is a little difficult than the previous one, but still easy at late season.
I didn't follow RR after km29.7 where the trail met the beach, because the trail looks a little overgrown, i just CC on the beach and crossing the river multiple times to upstream and rejoin RR at km30.9. I really enjoyed the moment walking beside and walking in the beautiful river under the hot sun. Also i find that there is lot of shrimp in the river, they are black and golden colours!
Km30.95 : gate.
Km31.15 : Puesto at the left side.
Km31.7 : after RR met a stream, i didn't follow RR again, just CC beside the stream, sometimes follow cow paths, sometimes just go by myself. Then i find a refuge at (-43.83791, -71.86699). It is unlocked and in good condition, 2 beds inside, 1 with mattress and 1 without, the one without mattress looks cleaner. I think it can use in bad weather. There is also a side trail from refuge to the viewpoint(-43.83872, -71.86624) of waterfall, easy to follow.
If you don't want to turn all the way back down to RR after taking a look of waterfall, there is a trail(-43.84021, -71.86632) at the right side of waterfall can go around it and climbing up. It is an old trail but still clear and easy to follow and walk. After climbing up it leads to SW, i followed it about 20min and it looks like going in the forest at south, lots of blowdowns inside the forest so i turned back to the trail and CC then cross the gulch at (-43.84181, -71.86414), easy crossing at here, just walking. After crossing, it is already very close to the trail that starts climbing up.
If you have a good weather, camping beside the lake(-43.86513, -71.86458) before the pass[37.1/1367] is great and beautiful.
From the pass[37.1/1367] to camp[38.0/1279], it's not CC, you can follow a trail until the grassland.
Quentin Clavel said hard part is start at km39, km39 is a blowdowns combination but just about 20m then easy walk again, some blowdowns and some overgrown but in an easy condition mostly just take you 2 second to step over them. The really hard part is not here.
Km39.65 : Camping spot no.35 at (-43.87829, -71.86105), can fit 2-3 tents with fire ring and log seats. There is a small stream flowing and a gate(-43.87819, -71.86119) with barbed wire after the spot.
Km40.3 : flat spot can fit 1 tent with a fire pit before you go down the rocky beach. The trail that go down to beach is washed away, looks like because of a huge fallen tree.( You'll understand what I mean when you are there.)
Km40.67 : excellent viewpoint(-43.88151, -71.87072) of the lake on a rocky beach. Also a nice breakfast and lunch spot. But no camping spot here(not flat).
Km40.75 : flat spot(-43.88191, -71.87150) can fit 1 tent with an old fire ring.
Km42.8 : 2 nice camping spots(-43.88981, -71.88147) can total fit 4-6 tents with fire ring and log seats, also with beautiful lake views.
I crossed the lake inlet at (-43.89053, -71.88207), below hip and a sand bar underwater, easy crossing because water nearly no flowing. Then rejoin the trail at (-43.89066, -71.88310).
Km43.2 : camping spot(-43.89231, -71.88335) can fit 2-4 tents with fire ring and log seats.
Then, GAME STARTS.
Lot of blowdowns blocks the way until refuge?[45.7/974] (no refuge there). Not really difficult, because you can go around or climb over or try to find side trail here, lot of solutions to solve, but much much slow down.
First of all, join the trail at (-43.89307, -71.88426), no more trail at the pud.
Refuge?[45.7/974] : no refuge, no camping spot, just an old bridge left.
From here, trail becomes smooth, still some blowdowns, but just easy and happy walking.
Camp[48.3/1057] : a tiny stream is flowing before you going out to grassland.
Km49 : walking on a broken log for crossing the small stream.
Water[51.3/971] : dry.
Refuge,park ranger[52.1/947] : 6 cabins here, all of them are good condition, and 2 of them can be used for overnight, others are lot of dead birds, have bee hives inside, is a toilet and stored full of things. Looks abandoned for 10 years, because i found a calendar that hanging in there is 2013. There is a side trail leads you to Lago Río Corto, it is beautiful, don't miss it!
Cross the lake outlet after refuge, up to knee in clear water. Trail become more blowdowns and overgrown after crossing.
From ford[56.0/943] to ford[56.6/928], you need to cross the same stream 11 times, all are easy crossing but wet feet, also the stream is milky.
Km56.57 : old camping spot with an old fire pit, can fit 1 tent, but i recommend the next spot.
Nice flat spot (-43.95887, -71.83283) can fit 1-2 tents at km56.83, 3 sides surrounded by small trees, good wind protection, also easy to collect water. But you need to take 5 minutes clear out some stones.
After 11 times crossing, trail becomes easy walk again.
Km58.15 : a huge rock, and a huge, tall tree growing on the rock! What amazing nature!
Km58.3 : lot of blowdowns again.
Km59.25 : trail junction(-43.96833, -71.85480), the clear trail going straight is not RR, it looks like going to the lake at west(i walked it a little because i missed the junction). Sobo turn left here, but the trail is very confused, not easy to follow and sometimes no more trail until camp[60.0/894]. It is not a good camping spot, can fit 1 tent with log seats and fire pit, also beside a flowing water but surrounded by lot of fresh cow poops, they also put their poops on the log seats.(It is cow's party spot) After here the trail will be better some moments, then confused again until next river crossing.
Ford[60.6/887] : you need to cross side stream and main river(Río Claro) at here. Both are milky water. First for side stream, go down to water at crossing point(-43.97678, -71.85529),a little muddy but fine, then 5m downstream step on the rock bar to the other side, just below knee. No need to climb up to other side immediately, turn right to main river in the water, go around the corner on sand bar, then cross the main river on another rock bar, knee deep but easy. When you get to the other side(-43.97729, -71.85489) of main river, an old conaf post there, then trail becomes easy condition. Can fit 1 tent on a spot after crossing but i recommend the next spot.
Km61.35: camping spot(-43.98247, -71.85335) can fit 1 tent with fire pit, after crossing a small stream with clear water. And no more sharp turning like GPX track here, it just going straight now.
Km61.7 : log gate. Yes log gate, not locked gate, it is a gate putting lot of huge logs blocked the way. Remove the log maybe take 10min, so climb over it.
From km61.8 to ford,camp[62.9/883], you walking beside 2 beautiful lake, sometimes very close to lake, or step on some rocks at the shore of lake, but never need to walk in the water at now as late season. No camping spot until ford,camp[62.9/883].
Ford,camp[62.9/883] : i crossed it at the point(-43.99268, -71.84577) that Quentin Clavel said, "that's the place where the lake begins to be a river, and there were no current". Up to hip and no flowing, wet my shorts but easy. You can stand on some huge blowdowns laid on the shore to observe your crossing route.
After the crossing, a camping spot with old fire ring there, but the spot is crashed by lot of blowdowns, so i cleared out some area here that can fit 1 tent now, and rebuild the fire ring and new log seats too. Hope you also enjoy the lovely fire after the deep crossing.(i crossed it just before dark!)
Easy walking until km65.5, then some blowdowns, muddy, and some overgrown.
Km65.77 : camping spot(-44.01372, -71.84370) can fit 1 tent, also can access to water at here. Looks like someone camped at here not long time ago.
Ford[67.3/829] & ford[67.4/827] : double crossing of Río Claro, flowing fast and up to knee. Some rocks are slippery here, be careful.
Ford[67.9/806] : flowing fast and up to knee, after the crossing, there's a small log bridge on the ground without any usefulness, what can i say...?
Camp[68.0/809] : looks like it is a camping spot made by puerto, have a full wooden bracket and some huge plastic cloths for making a shelter. Can fit 1 tent with fire pit.
Then steep climbing up on some soft mud, i think it will be super slippery if they get wet.
After you climb up, trail with some blowdowns, some overgrown and muddy.
Km69.55 : maze area, lot of blowdowns, lot of side trail, and lot of cutting sign, made me confused for some moments here.
Km70.1 : a stream (-44.04320, -71.84817) flowing nice with clear water, a small camping spot can fit 1 single person tent with fire ring after the crossing. Dry feet crossing by rock hopping.
From here to km72.5, is the most tired part for me, some blowdowns + some overgrown + some muddy + neverending pud, OMG.
Water[71.3/874] : Arroyo El Reloj, beautiful waterfall, no camping spot here.
Km72.1 : refuge in ok condition, maybe can use in bad weather. Soil ground and not flat, so i think you wouldn't like to stay inside. No camping spot nearby.
After km72.5, all the way going down, trail sometimes walk in wet and muddy gulch, but when you get lower, trail condition will become better and better.
Refuge[75.5/385] : good condition with fire ring inside. Large flat area outside beside refuge, can fit 4-6 tents with fire ring and log seats. {27H-02}'s trail looks clear and easy to follow at here.
Ford[75.6/375] : the last crossing of Río Claro, also the strongest one. I crossed at here(-44.07080, -71.87756), upstream of GPX track where the river start dropping down, looks like is the shalloest part at this crossing. Huge rock bar underwater. Flowing strong and above knee, a little challenge but still easy crossing, rock bar's rocks are huge size and stable, so I just walking and use the rocks for balance that push back the force from current.
After the crossing, trail becomes very overgrown about 300m, then easy walking start.
Km76.0 : camping spot(-44.07286, -71.87476) can fit 2-3 tents with fire ring and log seats.
Trail south of here, mostly are super easy walking, but sometimes make me confused, because it turning and turning, turning and turning, easy to lost the trail.
Km76.7 : board walking and gate.
Gate[83.0/447] : dirt road walking start, super easy going and all the way dry feet.
Water[86.0/419] : flowing low with clear water, nice grassland can fit lot of tents with views 100m before the crossing, but no wind protection.
X[90.2/543] : i missed this junction and walked all the way dirt road.
Bridge[95.0/318] : cross Río Pico on a large bridge, huge flat area with some small trees and brushes after the crossing, looks like upstream is better and i find at least 3 fire ring there. It is the last good camping spot before Lago Verde.
About Lago Verde,
Bus schedule:
Lago Verde - Coyhaique(Thursday 8am, Sunday 12noon), Lago Verde - La Junta(Wednesday 8am, return at 3pm), Coyhaique - Lago Verde(Tuesday and Friday 2pm)
Need advance booking, you can call or whatsapp Blanca Jara +56 9 94738219, and "Lago Verde - La Junta" is 2000 CLP.
Shop1 (-44.24083, -71.84950), lot of food selection and good stock, can full resupply here, but no gas canisters.
Shop2 (-44.24068, -71.85035), Nina's shop, small one, you can ask accommodation here, stay in her home for 18k CLP, single room with wifi, hot shower(with towel), a light dinner(not enough for hiker hunger) and you can use her kitchen. Super friendly family, highly recommended!
Both shops can use credit card.
Tourist information center(-44.24046, -71.84983), some super friendly staff there, in some conversations looks like they want to maintain the trail from Lago Verde to Lago Palena.
Bus stops at (-44.24035, -71.85012).
From 2023-02-05 to 2023-02-08 // 4 days // Hiking // NOBO // RR // Quentin Clavel
