26
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2024/25
A big thanks goes to Tomáš and Nathalie who told us right on time how to avoid the BB (Var. D and Var. E)! After an off day at hot springs with asado with Chileans (camp 82.3), we started relaxed in the section. We followed the quad tracks (Var. D and Var. E), there was water every 30 minutes. Some fallen trees, especially after the first pass (NOBO). Ferry schedule for Lago Pirihueco: https://barcazahuahum.com/en/schedule-and-prices/
24-12-28 - 24-12-29/ 2 days / SOBO / RR/OH18a Volker
The botanic section
This section has a low ranking and my main goal was to walk it quick instead of a long way by bus from the end of gpt17 to the start of gpt19. It turned out, that this section has a special charme and I liked it very much - at least on day 1.
Day 1: I connected the 17 and the 18 and finished the 17 at the indicated spot on the beach at 22.2. This substantially shortened the 18. First easy and quick dirt road walking in the forest. Later many broken trees. I had that before, even on the Villarica Traversa, where the Conaf got lazy, but not for such a long distance. Nothing difficult, it just slows you down. Shortly before the pass I could move quicker, soon after the pass the tree climbing and bypassing started again. It is over after the junction to the NOBO emergency exit (if you go NOBO and take this route to Puerto Fuy, you will have it). For me, a very beautiful part started: I walked for more than two hours over meadows and a meadow-like trail, on this late december day it was like fording a white and yellow ocean of daisies and buttercups (up to my thighs/knees). Smooth walking, navigation very easy, camp spots nearly everywhere (less when you get closer to X 18, 61.1).
The paradise was disturbed, when I arrived at X 61.1. Distant but rapidly approaching motor roaring. I hardly managed to hide behind a tree, when a dozen of quads and motocross bikes came up from the RR and continued on OH01a. Thanks God a huge broken tree blocks the entrance to the RR from where I came. I camped on the beautiful meadow at 64.1, hidden from the dirt road. The next morning I understood, that the qads had entered via OH01a and were on their way back from the bridge at 64.2.
Day 2: The BB-day. Most important: The trail is very overgrown, but it is there. Even if you don’t see it, you feel it under your feet. On 98% of the route it is no real bush-bashing. Except from some spots, the rule is: If you are bush-bashing, you have lost the trail. The most important exceptions are at:
S 40.094767° W 71.892545° (I spent more than 15 minutes of BB before I by chance found the trail again, gps-spotting is not precise enough (5m).
S 40.096544° W 71.891825°
S 40.128486° W 71.904211°
At S 40.121519° W 71.898829° I was „walking“ like the bear under bamboo, but: on the trail!
Nevertheless: You are slowed down. In the same hiking time as on the two days before, I walked 16km instead of more than 30. It took me more than 5 hours to get from the camp spot at 64.1 to the indicated ford at 72.2. If you walk SOBO and arrive at the camp spot later than 3 p.m., you should camp there. Next feasible camp close to the ford at 72.1.
Very important: Do not cross Rio Curringue, but take OH18a (thanks Lilian for this hint, others mentioned it before, but I think such important Information should be repeated in every comment). I had a look at the situation on the other side of the river (easy fording a very welcome cooling down) and after 20m couldn‘t figure out how to continue. On OH18a all easy, as described by Lilian. I was really glad, when I got out of the forest and think this route should be the new RR and the actual one downgraded to „Exploration“. At the 2nd gate at 80.5 there is a house to the left, people there, I asked, if I can pass the gate - and was offered a ride to Currine. The woman was very friendly, but what she is doing there is highly questionable. She has bought much land (outside of Huilo Huilo, as she said) and looks for international investors to build up a community for „eco-social recreation“…
In Currine 2 shops, in the first I was told, that there is no lodging in Currine, I have to walk/hitchhike to Maihue. In the second shop I was offered a room for 25k, very friendly family! Happy end of a demanding day.
* '''Start 2024-11-22/ 4d / Hiking SOBO RR / Mo'''