GPT44 (Peninsula de Magellanes)

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* 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

Summary with remarks to route that are considered useful for other hikers and packrafters. Include alerts, suggestions and personal perception of attractiveness and difficulties.

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Section Log, Alerts and Suggestions

Season 2023/24

• Frank 3 days part of RR then roadwalk to Calafate

I hitched from Calafate along Ruta 15 gravel road to junction X44 shown on track file then walked up to the frontier in one easy day. The route goes in CC for about 400 metres, then you go in along a drainage ditch to join an old jeep track. After a few KM the jeep track fades into cow trails but there are a lot of cows so the trails are in good condition. Then you go CC but it´s in meadows so easy walking. Flat areas near the river are boggy. When I reached the point where RR crosses the river it was running high so I went upstream 3KM on the near bank & crossed there, it was narrow & thigh deep. All other stream crossings I jumped.

2 huts at the Argentinian puesto. The good one was locked & the other one was good for cooking but not for sleeping. Good camping outside. The Chilean puesto is about 1KM from the frontier & is in good condition. It has a bed & a stove. I camped at the Argentinian puesto & returned easily to the road next day. When I reached the river I crossed it immediately - I was able to jump it at a narrow point. I stayed a little above the river on bluffs which are a bit drier than flat spots by the river. At the road I continued for about 8KM to junction X44A then hitched to Calafate.

I got the bus to Lago Roca, he dropped me at junction X44A & I walked back the 31KM Calafate in one day. You can walk on trails by the roadside for part of the route. No facilities open along the road.

Season 2022/23

• SoBo/ January 22/ Participant: Tobias Schorcht/ 3 Days/Method: Hiking

The cheapest Bustransfer from El Calafate to Puerto Bandera which I found was 7000 APS and is provided by Tolkeyen Patagonia. From Puerto Bandera I walked straight towards the border. Cross country aside brazo rico was easy. Took me a while to find a ford through the little creek which flows into the fjord. Jan might add the ford to the new Trackfiles. After hitting the border between Chile and Argentina, I walked back through the Peninsula de Magellanes, from where I hitchhiked back to Calafate. Few people there, easy trail, saw a skunk.

Transport to and from Route

December 2023 info: In high season i.e. from around 1st December there is a bus on Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 8:45AM from Calafate bus terminal to Lago Roca along Ruta 15. Cost 12,000 pesos one way or about 13 euro. The driver will drop you at junction X44 shown on the track file from where you can walk up to the Chilean frontier.

Images

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