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==Season 2023/24==
*2024 Mar 31st to Apr 5th / 4 hiking days / SOBO / Hiking / Opt 1 / Michael and Kaisa
We did sections 14 and 15 together.
TL:DR: Opt 1 is a nice route with lots of forest walking and some termales options; the Renahue sector of PN Huerquehue is still closed, but that also means no one is there.
Day 1 Mar 31st
Our hitch dropped us off at the beginning Opt 1. It is a road walk, but the road is not much used, so it wasn't too bad.
We camped at (-39.06732, -71.51559) just before the bridge. It was a functional campsite. It was right next to the road and the ground was covered in a thin layer of pumice, so not optimal for the tent. But it was flat, and didn't require climbing any fences. Going back a small path it had good river access. It was also clearly used as a campsite by other people. There was a fire ring and a grill hanging in a tree.
Day 2 Apr 1st
We continued on the road. We passed the entrance to Opt 1B, though we didn't have time to take it. It is a clearly marked trailhead. We continued on the road to the private property. We tried calling the phone number on the private property sign, but no one answered so we decided to just go ahead. The entrance was through a barbed wire gate, then follow the path along the fence line to the trail. The trail was in pretty good shape except for a few areas where water has rutted it out. We did not find any real access to Laguna Isolada; there was a ring of marsh grass about 3 or 4 meters wide around the whole lake. Where the track gets closest to the lake there was a fallen tree that we sat on for coffee and lunch. At two points there were fairly elaborate wooden barricades, one that we climbed under, the other we climbed around. It was unclear whether they were for animals or people. As has been noted before, the road begins earlier than it shows on the map. We did not see anyone the entire time. We both really enjoy walking in the forest, and the forest was very pretty throughout the day, so we were happy we chose to go this way instead of just hitching all the way to the termas.
We arrived at the termas area. Eco termas seemed nicer than San Sebastian. The weather forecast was predicting heavy rain and wind up to 60kmph with gusts over 100 kmph the following day, so we wanted to stay in a cabaña instead of the tent and neither of the termales places could accommodate us. We found a cabaña at Cabañas Rio Blanco (-39.10593, -71.61558). It had a well equipped kitchen, wood stove with wood included, and hot water in the shower and sinks. The woman who runs it, Angélica, was incredibly nice and made excellent pan amasado. There is no cell service in the valley and power cuts are a daily thing, though there was power for several hours a day, so plenty of time to charge things.
Day 3 and 4 April 2nd and 3rd
We stayed at Cabañas Rio Blanco for two days to wait over the weather.
Day 5 April 4th
We left Rio Blanco and started up the trail to PN Huerquehue. The trail was in decent shape, better than we had expected. Along the way we saw a lot of different mushrooms, including some very impressive groups of Amanita muscaria that were so shiny red they almost looked fake. At the Letrero mark on OSM is the welcome sign. There was a laminated piece of paper stapled to it that was so badly faded from water as to be unreadable. If it weren't for Natalie's note from last year we would have had no idea what it said. The Renahue sector is still officially closed, as is the camping. The trail up was sometimes a little hard to keep track of. It was also pretty slippery for a lot of it. I would definitely not recommend doing it in the rain. The forest is pretty though and we really enjoyed the hike. We camped at Renahue. It was fine, though nothing special.
Day 6 April 5th
From Renahue we followed the trail toward the entrance. Until Laguna Huerquehue there were still a lot of blow downs to climb over. In some places it looked like recent maintenance had been done, in others not. Laguna Avutardas is a short detour, as is Laguna Huerquehue which is less a laguna and more of a wetland. Laguna Toro was pretty and we stopped there for lunch. There is a campsite marked there on OSM, however the ground was saturated, not sure if from the rain or from the lake, but not a good camp spot. Lago Verde and Lago Chico were also nice. The trail after Lago Chico was in pretty rough shape. It was clear and there was no brush, but it was very wet and extremely slippery. There was no one at the ticket office when we left, however that is not really the exit. There is still more than a km of trail until a road, and then another 2 km until the actual gate. It was about 7:30 and we were about 200 m from the main entrance when a CONAF guard drove up in a truck, on his way to his house I assume. It ended up being a somewhat uncomfortable conversation, he was upset that we had gone that way and he said a number of things that didn't make sense, but the essence was that it was prohibited to cross the park from Rio Blanco. After everything he was a bit more demure and said if we wanted to camp at the CONAF camping it was 20.000 and we could register and pay in the morning, then he left. We were considering camping but a truck was leaving the entrance right as we got there and we caught a lucky hitch all the way to Pucón.
*2024-03-09 // 1 day // Hiking // NOBO // OPT3 + RR // Quentin Clavel
As the weather was not on my side this week, and that I've got only one sunny day, I did my best to have this nice day for the ascent of the sollipulli volcano.
So I decided to shortcut this GPT15, by passing threw the vallee Panqui (OPT3). It was not a very attractive section, as the RR I guess, rated 1/5 in terms of attractivity. But it was nor terrible !
After the city of Currarehue, you just follow a long and boring gravel road all along the vallee Panqui. Most surprising moment was to meet the polish priest of the city of Currarehue (yes, you read well), that really wanted to speak and know more on my adventure. After long discussions he even pried for me to have a safe end of my trip, and admit some doubt to have a track at the end of the gravel road. Another wtf moment of this GPT.
The priest was wrong, of course there were a track at the end of the valley ! And I was happy about that because I was quite bored about this gravel. Track is easy to follow, again more when you pass after cross-country motorcycle that made the way again more easy to follow !
Best little moment of this section was the view on the pass, af the valley and the sollipulli volcano far away.
Then you go down and continue the section until reigolil on a gravel road. People down there were very friendly and quite surprised to see me, not sure there's a lot of hikers who are passing threw the area !
Reigolil is tiny tiny, not the best choice to resupply, but there's a minimarket in case of emergency.
*2024-Feb-14 to 2024-Feb-16 / 2,5 days / Hiking / NOBO / RR / czimahi
from Curarrehue by road, no prob, first drinkable water just before Puesto 15 [37.4/1101]
one spiny fence on the way like on S39°22.000` W71°29.557` but you can just follow the road and then there is another road up.
I slept like 0,5km before Puesto 15 [33.1/1096] with water
The rest to Reigolil no prob, road ripio, I slept just after bridge Quinenahuin in some abandoned terrain
*2024-Jan-15 to 2024-Jan-16 / 1.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR - {15-03} / Lilian
Km1.07 : camping possibilities at west of the road(without fence)beside the river, some trees for privacy and cover.
Km4.0 : Dirt road junction, you can follow the dirt road to river side, looks like a large flat area there.
Km4.85 : large and beautiful grassland with trees and beside the river, some camping trace here. A small stream is flowing across the road 50m more.
Km7.8 : I crossed to the other side of valley with a bridge at here.
Settlement[59.8+6.9/767] : also a small shop here, selling some food and drinks, not much selection but good stock. I saw some locals waiting bus at here too. Super friendly.
Then i continued south to join {15-03}.
{15-03} km1.45 : i saw a clear trailhead going south at here.
Km1.6 : junction of road and trail.
From here to km4.1, {15-03} is a very old, damaged and no more cars running dirt road. Mostly you are following it, walking on it or some horse trail and cow paths to the pass at km4.35. Steep but very easy to follow.
Km1.68 : a trail junction here, it is a very clear trail to north, i think it is connected with the trailhead at km1.45.
Km2.25 : side trail to a stream (-39.19811, -71.47021), some people use wood and bamboo made a pipe here, easy to collect water, thank you!
Km2.75 : beautiful camping spot with grassland.
Km3.1 : small stream(-39.20079, -71.47549) flowing good, easy to collect.
Km3.9 : no more trace of road, become a horse trail. Some flat spots at valley(east) side with views but windy.
The trail is maintained by some people, some sticks just cut off on the ground maybe some weeks before. Trail condition is good and going smooth.
Km4.35 : some flat spots and an old, small bridge here. Stream under the bridge without flowing.
Km5.8 : trail condition becomes an old dirt road, also a dirt road junction here.
Km5.85 : beautiful grassland(-39.21900, -71.48849), with a huge tree can fit lot of tents here. Bridge and a good flow stream nearby(-39.21831, -71.48848).
Km5.9 : bridge, stream flowing good with clear water under the bridge.
Km7.55 : stream flowing low beside the road, cross a log to grassland camping spot. After here, no more camping possibilities i can find.
Km8.1 : a friendly locked gate, easy climb at left side.
Km8.2 : bridge, stream flowing good with clear water under the bridge.
Km11.3 : bus stop at the turning, but i don't know about the bus schedule.
I walked about 4-5km more, a local driver waved hands to me, then i arrived Curarrehue, MAGIC!
Good town for resupply. Lot of accommodation, some supermarkets and restaurants in Curarrehue, also bus to Pucón and Santiago. I resupply at Supermercado Katty(-39.36219, -71.58473), because locals told me it is the best in Curarrehue, and i find 230g gas canisters at GYG Supermercado (2nd floor)(-39.36043, -71.58693), it just left 2.
*2023-28-12 / 1,5 days / Hiking / NOBO / Option 1 + 1a / Jens
==Resupply and Accommodation along the Route==
Quentin : Currarehue is kind of a big city, where you'll find easily places to resupply (there's at least 4 supermarkets and 10 minimarkets), foodplaces and accomodation (cabanas, hospedaje and hostel (at the end of the city)). Didn't checked in all supermarkets, but there's a good chance to find Gaz in this city I reckon, if not in supermarkets, probably in ferretería ?
Reigolil is tiny tiny, not the best choice to resupply, but there's a minimarket in case of emergency.
=Transport to and from Route=
Bus goes from Pucon to Curarrehue then Reigolil
As of January 2024
Bus from Reigolil to Curarrehue at 2pm. 1000 pesos. Two hour bus ride.
SOBO to Parque Huerquehue:
Ask the Termas about chartered buses: Whatsapp;+56946809918, +56992318329.
Otherwise make your way via Cunco or Temuco-->Cunco.
Temuco's Terminal de Buses Rurales (Balmaceda 1475) can be complicated since most buses have their own shop elsewhere. For Cunco go to office "IGI LLAIMA/ Nar Bus"; Balmaceda 997. The bus leaves every 30min.
From Cunco check with locals about bus to Lago Caburga. Supposedly a bus leaves everyday at 4 or 5pm from Balmaceda corner La Concepción. It will pass by the nice supermarket;Supermercado Hesis on "Colico Sur" aka the S-75. Confirm schedule in the municipality of Cunco before traveling at +56 45 2200147.
Hitchhiking is easy up until Lago Collico, after that there are cars but not many stop.
=Permits, Entry Fees and Right-of-Way Issues=