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Summary: This is a new  December 17–26 2024 / 10 days/ Packrafting / SOBO / New option combining Huella Andina and quite scenic and varied mostly-not-on-nearby lakes from Icalma/Villa Pehuenia to Paso Mamuil Mamal (road route. In our opinion, it is a superior alternative from Pucón to a lot of roadwalking on the RR Argentina) GPT14RP?, GPT15-15 and a possible candidate for extending RP (including a river flowing through Aracaurias???TL;DR: If you like people suffering, which are skip to be found along all the trail). The last bushbashing (BB) part, while offering an experience in a pristine and untouched forest, is extremely demanding and not exactly safe due to its remoteness and bone breaking/puncture hazards. The forest was an experience for us like no other so far after six months on the GPT in total. The 5km BB took us 3 days7–9. However, before that final section, this route is suitable for hikers as it follows the Huella Andina ("HA")Note: putting everything here, with some modifications (and using a packraft). Natalie also found a MR route around the bush bashing and last two lakes (with some ridge options) for hikers. In either case, one can than connect to our traverse od the side of Lanin, which we published last year in GPT16. Had even though this not been our first section this year and had we not carried 1a packraft and food for ten days, this could have been done much faster. I will refer to the KMZ file downloadable from wikiexplora article about HA. This time of the year, we practically never carried water, it was everywhere. It would be probably different at the end of summer. We never met any park rangers, so we do not know if any permits or payments are needed. In Villa Pehuenia, we were told by the tourist information office that HA is only open from Lago Ñorquinco, and indeed it is only marked from there, but the technically spans two previous sections exist as trails or roads and - there is no possibility to our knowledge are open for hikinglegally cross borders back to GPT15. Probably they are not maintained as they are not in any National Park. Outside of the lakes, we met no other overnight hikers and only one daypacker and one group of MTBikers. )

Summary: This is a new, scenic and varied route made for packrafters but can be done by hikers as well. As compared to the Chilean side (GPT14/15), it has very minimal road walking and we highly recommend it if you don’t mind missing Sollipulli. It begins near the Argentinian border near Icalma and Villa Pehuenia. It then utilizes the Huella Andina (HA) for most parts and ends in the Lanin national Park near the Pucon border, via crossing a mighty dense 5km bushwhack and sailing across Lago Tromen. The end is the crux, it took us 3days to cover 5km, and although we do not deem it “safe” due to the susceptibility to injury with no way of rescue, it is worth the battle. For hikers there is a lot of terrain worth exploring on the south side of Lago Quillen that would connect you back to the main road, and or end at Lago Quillen. We are really happy this worked out because it then connects flawlessly to our Lanin traverse created in 2023/2024, that is if you can manage food. Please don’t let the bushwhack throw you off, for the most part the going was easy. Had this not been our first section of the year, loaded with a packraft and food for ten days it could have been done much faster. And the bushwhack should only take 2 days, not 3. I will refer to the KMZ file downloadable from wikiexplora article about HA. At this time of the year, we practically never carried water, it was everywhere, it would likely be different at the end of summer. We never met any park rangers, so we do not know if any permits or payments are needed. In Villa Pehuenia, we were told by the tourist information office that HA is only open from Lago Ñorquinco, and indeed it is only marked from there, but the two previous sections exist as trails or roads and did not present with any obstacles. It is probable they are just not maintained as they are not in any National Park. While hiking we only met one daypacker and one group of MTBikers.  Day 0 - Crossing from Icalma to Villa Pehuenia - 4 km.In Icalma, we asked a local working in a garden whether there was a taxi in Icalma and he offered to drive us to the border for 5 thousand CLP, which we accepted. It was a big help since the border was closing at ~7pm (it may have been 6pm but we only had an hour or so for both BOTH crossings). At the border, we were informed that Argentina requires a boat certificate of desinfection disinfection by a Chilian officer, but the Argentinians did not ask for it (for details, see this discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/222224388283455/posts/1956717948167415/). We didn't get a hitch between the border controls, but soon after in Argentina the first car took us to Villa Pehuenia. Villa Pehuenia is a tourist town, with no exchange office but seemingly every shop was willing to change US dollars for Argentinian pesos, ask around to get a decent rate. Shops were open until 21. Ressuply Resupply is well possible, this being Argentinathe food is great, but depending on the inflation food is now probably much cheaper (though of course worse) in Chile (the Argentinian border controls did not check our bags stuffed with food at all). There is a dedicated shop for vegetables and fruits here: -38.88139, -71.18762. Paid 10 thousand to sleep at a run-down but functional ‎Complejo Lagrimitas. Phone Claro internet decent.