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→Season 2025/26
==Season 2025/26==
* GPT37P Option 4 and 7 / Lago O‘Higgins, Brazo Poniente, 3 Lakes and 6 Glaciers upstream of Rio Manso /2025-12-31 and 2026-01-01 / Meylin Ubilla & Jan Dudeck
We just attempted a long planned exploration in the vicinity of Lago O’Higgins (valley of Rio Manso at the western terminus of Brazo Poniente). This valley with 3 smaller lakes and 6 glaciers appears quite attractive on satellite images. Settlers (Ana and Jorge) live at the entrance of this valley and offered us one or two years ago to guide us to these lakes.
We used a reasonably calm morning to cross from Isla Central to Rio Turbio (packrafting 6 km in a 1:15 h) but then wind from the west stopped us to paddle further into Brazo Poniente. Therefore we exited the lake and hiked with very heavy backpacks along a partially overgrown trail in 1.5 days to the home of Ana and Jorge. We had to use our packraft to ferry over Rio Manso.
When we reached the settlers, Jorge then explained:
- The valley of Rio Manso is infested by partially aggressive wild cattle („baguales“) making it unsafe to hike in this valley without being accompanied by trained dogs that detect and chase of these animals before they can attack invaders of their territory. Especially territorial bulls may attack humans that walk into this valley. Therefore these settlers don’t permit hikers to explore this valley and these lakes without being accompanied by them.
- Between November and February the meltwater from the glaciers raise the river levels making river crossings on horseback difficult and unsafe (Rio Manso could be crossed safely by packraft, other glacier streams not). Especially on sunny days this becomes an issue. Therefore Jorge could not accompany us to show us the hidden trails.
We therefore aborted this exploration and plan to use the next calm day to packraft back on Lago O‘Higgins to attempt the exploration of Option 8D.
Conclusion: Exploring the inner Rio Manso valley is only advisable in September, October, early November, March or April after careful pre-planning with the settlers. WhatsApp contact information can be provided on request.
Side note: Even without access to these 3 lakes and 6 glaciers the Brazo Poniente of Lago O’Higgins is very attractive route. The impressive glaciers Santa Lucia and Huemul are easily reachable on foot from the western terminus of Brazo Poniente. But a packraft is required to travel these routes in summer due to the high river levels.
==Season 2024/25==
