6
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2024/25
General Notes: From Route 7 to the Torres viewpoint, it's quite straightforward and well-marked. The difficult section is between Camp 57.2 and Camp ? 11.6. I know there's a route from Camp ? 11.6 to another viewpoint of the Torres, which is not included in current GPS tracks. It seems to be a trail that guides from Avellano Bahía Muerta are currently working on.
* '''2025 Jan / 4,5 days / SOBO / hiking/ opt. 3B, RR, opt. E / Al & Bee'''
It’s a beautiful route but it also consists of a considerable amount of road walking. The terrain before and after the Torres and some of the river crossings can be challenging depending on the conditions. This GPS track by AlexChile on wikiloc was very helpful.
Day 01
We hitched a ride in the late afternoon from Villa Cerro Castillo along the Carretera Austral to the crossing with Camino Lago Lapparent (X at 18.6). From there on it’s a long way of gravel road walking. For camping we would not recommend the camp at 32.0 because it’s located on a fenced-off part of the trail. We camped in proximity to a small river at approximately (-46.25806, -72.38893).
Day 02
Late start, waiting out the rain in the morning. More road walking through the forest until X at 45.5. Then following a path through the forest on to an open valley with some cows. Some parts were boggy, at times it was easier to walk on the left side close to the forest. Some easy fording. Camp at 52.7 looked nice, lots of dead trees in that area. Route along river became more challenging at some point after X at 54.5 but it also started raining quite heavily then. Boulder fields to cross carefully, rocks were slippery in the rain. Behind the first boulder field, a stretch of (former) forest previously devastated by a storm, almost all trees uprooted. Reached the two lagoons as it was getting dark and camped at a beautiful spot close to camp at 61.2.
Day 03
The next morning peaks of the Torres were (still) covered in clouds, yet a beautiful sight. CC up to the pass at 62.0, beautiful views of the lagoon next to camp at 63.4 and the glacier. CC down the pass and through the boulder field required concentration but was fun, the weather was good. We were able to go around the snow field, which was then to our right. A bit further we encountered the same issue as described by MiaimZelt: our trails and the map didn’t match the terrain in the section with the waterfall. We also hiked down left of it. CC-descent close to lagoon and over boulder field. For the stretch along Rio Ventisquero to the trailhead we can really recommend the GPS track mentioned above. Countless (easy) river crossings, some riverbed walking, some boggy stretches. Nice horse trail after trailhead at 68.5. Fording at 69.8 was knee to thigh deep and manageable. After (easy) ford at 71.8 we took variant E because it seemed less overgrown. Easy horsetrail from there. Said hello to a settler. Camped right before ford at 81.2.
Day 04
Fords at 81.2 and particularly 81.4 were quite deep (thigh to hip high) and with strong current but manageable. Soon, easy walking on minor road. The road becomes bigger as you get closer to the lake. At the lake we enjoyed walking at the lake shore in the beginning before the path leads up to the hills. A perfectly windless day, the lake was extremely calm. The walk along and view of the lake was gorgeous and a highlight of the trail. Lots of creeks and beautiful waterfalls. We met two GPT-hikers heading the opposite direction and had a nice chat. Not many campsites available along the path. After a long day of walking we camped at 113.9.
Day 05
Late start, enjoying the lake in the morning. A little more ups and downs along the lake then ascended first on an overgrown minor road and then on one actually in use. Got water up the stream next to settler at 121.8. Along the last part of the dirt road we had a nice chat with local settlers who showed us some Calafate berry shrubs and offered us a ride to the junction with the road to Levican (X at 130.4). From there we had a transport.
